Here is a short list of common questions that we get about the Wellesley College ProCard program.

Q: Why Do I Need A Purchasing Card?
The purchasing card program can help you handle business-to-business purchases more efficiently. And with the ongoing support and consultation of BankOne, the program can help Wellesley College begin to achieve its electronic commerce initiatives, including reducing the paperwork and layers of bureaucracy involved with making everyday purchases. 

Q: How Does The Program Work?
From purchase to payment, the purchasing card streamlines your entire purchasing process. Each card is assigned to a person within a specific department, often according to a general ledger designation and a project or cost code. In almost all cases, the cardholder can then purchase materials without purchase orders and invoices.  You must retain your receipts / packing lists for audit purposes, but you are free from tracking requisitions through the Wellesley College Purchase Order system and free from tracking invoices through the payment process. If you lose or misplace a receipt, you must complete this form.

Q: Will My Vendors Accept The Card?
Yes, any vendor that accepts Mastercard will accept the Wellesley College Pro Card. There are currently more than 100,000 Mastercard merchants in the Massachusetts / New England area.  However, if a vendor does not accept Mastercard, BankOne can assist that vendor in becoming a card merchant.  Please notify the Purchasing Department if you have a regular vendor that does not accept Mastercard and we will work with them

The program also improves vendor cash flow. Through the automated payment process of BankOne and Mastercard, vendors are paid usually within two to three business days, which can help reduce the vendor's billing and administrative expenses.

Q: What Types Of Purchases Can Be Made?
Most everyday purchases can be made with your ProCard.  

    Please note that TRAVEL & ENTERTAINMENT vendors are shut off
    by BankOne  because the ProCard cannot be used for these
    purchases.  Please follow this link to the Travel Card Page.

Beyond the travel purchases restriction, you are only limited to vendors that accept Mastercard and your individual card spending limit.

Q: Why shouldn't I utilize Purchasing Department Purchase Orders; after all, don't PO's offer additional contractual protections?
At one point in time, the Uniform Commercial Code required that all contracts over $500 needed to be in writing.  Because of this requirement, purchase orders were created as a business instrument.  The laws of commerce are not as stringent as they once were.  Most everyday purchases do not require the additional contractual protections that a purchase order provides.

Also, there are also fraud protections provided by the ProCard system that the Purchase Order system does not guard against.  

Q. How long does it take to get a ProCard after submitting a Purchase Requisition? 
Please allow 2 weeks for processing of you ProCard application.

Q. Where do I get a ProCard Application form? 
From the Purchasing Department, ext. 2039, or download the form here.