Director's Office

Frequently Asked Questions - Buying Stuff

How Do I Buy Stuff?

The general answer is: ask a faculty member or lab instructor about what to buy and what vendor to use and then fill out a Requisition Form. If you need help, here is a SAMPLE Requisition Form. You then deliver the form to the Stockroom in Sabin-Reed basement or in their mailbox outside Burton 115.

For Smith SURF students - How Do I Spend My Supply Budget?

If you have been informed that you have a supply budget for the summer, you spend it by filling out a Requisition Form and dropping it off to the Stockroom or in their mailbox. Here is some help on the mandatory fields:

Requisition Date – the date you submit this form
Funding source (the founding source for your fellowship, typically: HHMI, Schultz, Merck or Beckman)
Deliver to – the room number item should be delivered to (you may want to also give alternative name, e.g. staff person or faculty member, if you might not be there)
Delivery date – the date you hope to receive the item ordered
Vendor info – you need to specify exactly which vendor to use (ask faculty or lab instructors)
Quantity, Description, Unit Price, and Extension fields.
IMPORTANT: (1) Add up total order at the end of form, and (2) write "SURF: [your name]" on the form - legibly(!)

If you want to buy someting at the the Smith Computer Store, put it on a Requisition Form and have it signed off by the Associate Director in Burton 117.

If you have expenses that do not go through the Stockroom or Computer Store, submit an Expense Reimbursement Form (including copy of receipt) to the Associate Director, Burton 117.

How do I buy furniture?

Furniture is generally bought by faculty members or departments based on a funding request submitted directly to the Dean for Academic Development. Also, you can ask the Associate Director for help. Generally, the college buys furniture from Conklin Furniture in Holyoke, MA, 1 800-817-1187. Our contact is Jim McDonald. Many individual items can also be found at W.B.Mason (generally cheaper).

Who Can Help Me at the Science Center?

Your first point of contact are faculty members, lab instructors or other students in your area. Specifically, get their help to correctly identify what you need to buy and what vendor to use. After you correctly complete a Requisition Form, the Stockroom in Sabin-Reed basement can help you. They have an inventory of some items on location and help with ordering and receiving of items. Also, the Academic Assistants in Burton 115 can generally help you answer questions. If you are a Summer Research Fellow, your main point of contact is the Associate Director in Burton 117.

Where can I buy office supplies or see a catalog of what's available?

You can find a selection of office supplies in the Stockroom in Sabin-Reed Basement. The current office supplies vendor for the Science Center is W.B.Mason. Staff orders are processed by Betty Daignault or Daryl Jett.

How do I get things mailed/shipped to me?

Make sure the sender has your accurate name. If you are a student, please use a faculty or staff members name on shipments to the Science Center. If you wish, putting a copy of the order or sales invoice in the Stockroom mailbox with the notation “CONFIRMING ONLY” or "ALREADY ORDERED" will help the Stockroom anticipate your shipment. Use the following address:

Faculty/Staff Name
Smith College
Clark Science Center
44 College Lane
Northampton, MA 01063

Little House (not for chemicals):

Faculty/Staff Name
Smith College
Little House
51 College Lane
Northampton, MA 01063

If there is no room for 5 lines then "Clark Science Center" or “Little House” can be removed.

Go back to Science Center Director's Office - Main Page