Faculty Senate votes to adopt Federal per diem travel reimbursement rate; proposal now goes to college administration fr review

By Jenny Villanueva

El Paso Community College Faculty Senate voted to forward a proposal to

administration that would replace the college’s flat $45 travel reimbursement rate for

faculty with federal established per diem rates.

During the Faculty Senate’s meeting on Feb. 9, Speech Professor and Senator Erika Portillo proposed that EPCC match federal per diem rates. Portillo said faculty members currently receive $45 per day for food expenses while traveling out of town for meetings and student competitions. She said the amount EPCC currently offers is not enough.

“This is my proposal to adopt the federal per diem rate for faculty travel,” Portillo said. She explained that, according to the General Services Administration website, each city’s per diem rate is higher than what EPCC currently offers. According to their website, the GSA establishes the per diem rates that federal agencies use to reimburse their employees for lodging and meals and incidental expenses incurred while on official travel within the continental United States.

Portillo said the current reimbursement rate was previously $30 per day before it increased to $45. While staff were pleased with the $15 increase at the time, Portillo said, inflation has caused costs to rise rapidly. Every city has a different per diem rate. Cities such as Austin, Texas, have an $80 per diem rate, according to the GSA website. Portillo said faculty members may pay out of pocket to cover remaining expenses, which can create a financial strain and may discourage staff from attending conferences or college-related events.

Faculty Senate president Albert Burnham

The GSA sets the per diem rate annually, which adjusts to higher prices. Typically, higher-cost cities have a higher allowance. With a $45 flat rate in higher-priced cities, it may not be enough to cover all expenses. Staff must then cover the remaining costs out of pocket, which can cause financial strain.

It may also affect students, as faculty often travel with them to academic competitions and college-related events. If staff are discouraged from attending conferences and college-related events, there may be fewer opportunities for the college and its students to participate.

A motion was made to forward the proposal to administration. The Faculty Senate approved the motion, and it will now move to EPCC administration for review and consideration.

In an email response, Portillo said adopting the federal per diem rate would have a positive long-term impact by making faculty and student-related travel more accessible. She said adopting the proposal would lift the financial burden imposed by EPCC’s current flat rate. This could expand faculty and student opportunities by allowing faculty to travel without additional financial strain.

“Over time, this change will strengthen faculty morale, enhance program visibility at regional and national events, and align EPCC with standard higher-education travel practices,” Portillo said.

Faculty travel can often include participation in academic conferences and student competitions that represent the college at national levels. The decision from administration will determine whether the per diem proposal is adopted and whether the policy aligns with that decision moving forward.