Glossary of Terms
- Service Provider
- Service providers are organizations that process, store, or transmit cardholder data on behalf of merchants.
- Service Set Identifier (SSID)
- Wireless APs advertise the services they provide with a name programmed into the device called an SSID. For example, "UofM," "UofM Secure," and "UofM Guest" are SSIDs on the Twin Cities and Rochester campuses as well as Extension Sites and Research Outreach Centers.
- Services
- Products offered by a bank, savings institution, credit union, brokerage firm, or third party vendors that provide payment, depository, or investment capabilities.
- Set Aside
- Method of bidding which allows for exclusive participation by certified Targeted Group Businesses. Minnesota Statute 137.35 specifically allows the University of Minnesota's use of this bidding procedure when there are 3 or more TGBs available to participate in the bidding. Set Asides are used sparingly, and are allowed for only Targeted Group Businesses.
- Settlement
- Agreement including a monetary payment to resolve a dispute between the University and another party.
- Severance
- A sum of money paid to an employee upon termination.
- Sex and Violent Offender Registry Check
- A review of the Sex and Violent Offender Registry to determine whether an individual has any undisclosed convictions for sexual assault or abuse or violent crimes.
- Sexual Assault
- Actual, attempted or threatened sexual contact with another person without that person's consent. Sexual assault often is a criminal act that can be prosecuted under Minnesota state law, as well as under the Student Conduct Code and employee discipline procedures.
- Sign
- Used to inform, direct, identify or regulate. The University signage system provides consistent size, graphic format and configuration to assist the viewer in obtaining information quickly and in an orderly progression. The consistent use of common design elements help to identify the facility as being part of the University of Minnesota system. The sign standards have been developed to assist architects, engineers, other design professionals, contractors and U of M staff in understanding the preferences of the U of M in the development, maintenance and repair of facilities.
- Signature Authority
- The authority to bind the University by executing an agreement or contract or taking a personnel action. This authority may only be exercised after obtaining any required approval, funding approval, and legal approval. Signature Authority is invalid without the other required approval(s).
- Single Purchase Tax Exemption
- Customers whose exemption is for a single purchase. These are customers who are not typically tax exempt but are purchasing items that are intended for resale. The customer must provide a completed Minnesota form ST3.
- Six-Year Capital Plan
- Part I of the University’s two-part capital program which identifies capital projects approved to proceed with preliminary project planning but not authorized to proceed beyond schematic design. The six-year capital plan is reviewed and approved by the Board of Regents on an annual basis.
- Small Business
- A business located in Minnesota that is organized for profit, and is 51% owned, operated and controlled by citizens of the United States whose total gross revenue per year falls within the lower 25% of its given category. The Standard Industrial Classifications (SIC) are used to define the category of each business. The gross revenue limit for any category will not be less than $1 million.
- Small Business Office
- The Office within Purchasing that administers all Small Business programs including purchasing from TGBs. This office consists of Administrative Service and Contract Compliance.
- Smoking
- The inhaling, exhaling, burning, or carrying a lighted cigarette, cigar, pipe, or other lighted smoking product. The burning of any type of lighted pipe, cigar, cigarette, or any other smoking equipment or device, whether filled with tobacco or any other type of material. This definition includes use of devices that mimic smoking, such as e-cigarettes or electronic vaping devices.
- Social Security Trace
- The verification of all the known aliases and addresses associated with the applicant employee name.
- Sole Proprietorship
- An unincorporated business owned & controlled by one person. That person alone is responsible for profits, losses, debts and obligations. Income and expenses are reported on the person's individual tax return and taxed at that rate.
- Special Expenses
- Expenses of an unusual or infrequent nature which are not normally associated with the conduct of teaching, research or outreach. Special expenses may be allowable and reimbursed if it can be shown that there is a direct benefit to the University for having incurred the expense, either by supporting its mission or by improving its reputation with the public.
- Split Distribution
- A method to identify more than one account to pay for a purchase.
- Spoken English Test for Teaching Assistants (SETTA)
- A 15 minute assessment of a prospective nonnative teaching assistant’s spoken English proficiency while teaching topics in their field.
- Sponsor-Investigator
- An individual (not a company) who both initiates and conducts an investigation and complies with all the obligations of both a sponsor and an investigator.
- Sponsored Driver
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Any unpaid person under the direct supervision of a department head or above. Visiting faculty, staff or students under the supervision or direction of a University responsible authority (example: department head) are to be considered Sponsored Drivers.
- Sponsored Financial Reporting (SFR)
- The unit within the Controller's Organization that is responsible for financial aspects of post-award administration. This includes, but is not limited to, financial reporting, invoicing, collecting on sponsored accounts, and coordination of external audits of sponsored projects.
- Sponsored Project
- An externally funded activity that is governed by specific terms and conditions. Sponsored projects must be separately budgeted and accounted for subject to terms of the sponsoring organization. Sponsored projects may include grants, contracts (including fixed price agreements), and cooperative agreements for research, training, and other public service activities.
- Sponsored Project Administration (SPA)
- The unit within the Office of the Vice President for Research that is responsible for pre-award and some post-award administration on sponsored projects.