685  Disposal of Surplus Property

Approved by President
Effective Date: June 5, 2017
Responsible Division: Business and Finance
Responsible Office:  Administrative and Business Services
Responsible Officer:  Assistant Vice President, Administrative and Business Services

I. Purpose

This policy outlines the rules and procedures for the disposal of surplus personal property by Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU or University). These procedures concerning the disposal of surplus personal property shall be followed by MTSU.

II. Definitions

A.  Immediate Family. University/State agency employee’s spouse, parent, sibling, or child.

B.  Responsible Authority. Department or individual designated by the President to be responsible (hereinafter referred to as "responsible authority") for the disposal of surplus personal property, and the communications and procedures concerning the disposal of surplus personal property.

C.  State Agency. The departments, agencies, and entities of the State of Tennessee.

D.  State Higher Education Institution. A State university board institution, Tennessee Board of Regents System institution, or University of Tennessee System institution.

E.  Personal property. Every species of State property which is not:

1.  Real property, or

2.  Intangible personal property, i.e., money, debt instruments, corporate ownership instruments, etc.

F.  Surplus Personal Property. Personal property which has been determined to be obsolete, outmoded, unusable, or no longer usable by the University, or property for which future needs do not justify the cost of maintenance and/or storage. Such property must be declared surplus personal property by the President or designee; provided however, property need not be declared surplus when disposition is through the trade-in method.

III. General Rules

A.  Surplus personal property is either usable property which shall be transferred or sold, or unusable property, which may be destroyed, as hereinafter provided:

1.  Surplus personal property which is perishable food may be destroyed without delay or notification.

2.  Surplus mattresses may be destroyed, or may be otherwise disposed of, only upon compliance with T.C.A. § 12-2-403.

3.  Surplus personal property which is determined to be not usable by the University, and of little or no salvage or other economic value, may be destroyed by an appropriate method.

4.  The University shall follow the procedures described in Section IV.C. of this policy prior to disposal of all other surplus personal property.

B.  Surplus personal property in which the federal government or other entity has a legal interest, should be transferred to such entity when no longer needed.

C.  It is unlawful for any State official or employee to purchase from the State, except by bid at public auction, any surplus property during the tenure of such person’s office or employment, or for six