• The purchasing card is intended for low-dollar, best-judgment purchases to be paid directly by the University. The card is assigned to a specific UW–Madison employee and may only be used by that individual. 

• The department purchasing card is similar to a purchasing card; however, with additional approvals and documentation requirements, the Department Purchasing Card can be used by both the cardholder and other authorized purchasers.

• More details on the Business Services Webpage

• Don’t need to check out department card/faster purchasing time frame

• Use for repetitive, low-dollar study-specific purchases (eg. Craigslist recruitment posts)

• Mandatory Training (Initial and yearly thereafter)

• Responsible for knowing and following purchasing policies and procedures

• Must reconcile own purchases within 30 days

• Additional time commitment/administrative burden

• You must check ShopUW+ (SUW+) first for item/s - and are required to purchase there if available

• Under $5k purchases only are allowed on Pcard (if item not available on SUW+)

  • This means $4999 and below

• CANNOT SUPERSEED RULES! (2 infractions within 1 year you lose your card privileges)

• Review L&S PCard Quick Guide and CHM Purchasing Card Policy

If you are still interested in pursuing a Pcard, per the CHM Purchasing Card policy, please email chm_purchasing@chm.wisc.edu to set up a meeting with Brittany, Deb, Sarah to discuss.

• No need to know purchasing policies

• You don’t have to reconcile the purchase 

  • Upload documentation

  • Assign funding

  • Clear business purpose

• Not responsible for maintaining a business purchasing account (i.e. Amazon)