The Approved Caterers Program establishes a strategic supplier list of approved catering vendors that may be used for on campus related food and are required for catering purchases above $750.

The program is designed to streamline planning, improve consistency, support compliance, and simplify payment and reporting processes.

• The program applies to university-related catering purchases for events above $750.
• The $750 threshold is measured per event, not per person and not per line item.

An event:

• is any planned gathering, program, meeting, or series of related activities for which food and/or beverage services are arranged for a defined group of participants, regardless of size, format, duration, or funding source.
• may consist of a single function (e.g., a reception or meeting) or multiple coordinated service instances (e.g., meals, breaks, or receptions provided over one or more days) that are organized under a common purpose, sponsor, or program, including but not limited to conferences, camps, orientations, trainings, or similar multi-session programs.

A single event may not be split into multiple orders, invoices, vendors, or payment methods to avoid the threshold.

• Approved caterers must be used whenever the purchase falls within the policy.

Exceptions are available in limited circumstances through the designated exception approval process.