Section 900: Physical Plant

Effective: December 1, 1999
Revised: April 2020; August 2023
Last Review: August 2023
Next Review: August 2025
Responsible Party: Controller

Montana State University-Northern has statutory obligations to record, control and account for property acquired with University funds or donated to the University. All property acquired by, or donated to the University, regardless of the source, belongs to the University.

  1. The Chancellor may delegate responsibility for the management of University-owned property, using the model described in Policy 903.4, Space Assignment and Management. The Controller is assigned responsibilities as the overall property coordinator. 
  2. Individuals with delegated responsibility for University-owned property are responsible to the Chancellor for all such property purchased in the unit name or assigned to that unit, regardless of the source of funds. That responsibility includes taking adequate precautions to ensure that such property is reasonably safe from theft or misuse. Losses or thefts of property must be reported at the earliest opportunity to the individual or unit manager responsible for such property.
  3. Individuals with delegated responsibility for property may assign specific property to faculty or staff members, who are expected to maintain such property reasonably. Property may not be removed from an assigned area without the express permission of the above-described individuals or unit managers.
  4. Physical inventories are required for all capital assets, tagged minor equipment and sensitive equipment. In coordination with unit managers, the Business Office and Physical Plant will ensure physical inventories are conducted in accordance with Montana Operations Manual (MOM) 335 Capital Assets, and necessary write-offs are documented and submitted to the Legislative Audit Division (LAD) and the Attorney General as lost, stolen or destroyed property in accordance with Montana Operations Manual (MOM) 335 Capital Assets.
  5. Disposal Procedures for campus-owned property. Any party desiring to dispose (junk, sell or donate) of state-owned assets must complete a Surplus Property form found on the Business Services Forms website, and return it to Business Services for routing and approval from the State DOA Property and Supply Bureau prior to disposal.
  6. Highly pilferable or sensitive items such as personal computers, laptops, etc., are required to be tracked, and inventoried regardless of their cost.
  7. The diverse and highly-technical nature of some University property, in particular those items that are purchased for use in the sciences, engineering and technical programs; and computer equipment, requires oversight of Information Technology Services/Facilities Services for alteration, removal, or disposal of said property. 
  8. Physical Plant personnel will conduct employee training annually that addresses disposal, lost, stolen/destroyed property  and will publish those procedures and applicable forms on the Montana State University-Northern website for increased awareness and accessibility.

References:

Policy 903.1 University Property and Facilities Rental
Policy 903.4 Space Assignments & Management