Research Development Committee Report May 19, 2011.
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Transcript of Research Development Committee Report May 19, 2011.
Allowable Expenses on Grants• Grant Final Reconciliation• Often thousands of $ disallowed
- Computers and related supplies
Allowable Expenses on Grants• OMB Circular A-21
– WSU Policy: Computers and related peripherals ruled “Office Supplies”
– Therefore, not allowable direct costs.
Allowable Expenses on Grants• RDC invited Vice President for Research Dr.
Ratner to discuss this issue.• Subsequently a University Special
Committee On Allowable Costs was formed – Chair, Assoc. VPOR Dr. Dunbar
• Consultant hired
Allowable Expenses on Grants• OMB Circular A-21 – NEW POLICY
– Computers and related supplies MAY be Direct Costs
– Justify need (e.g. current computers are antiquated and will not run needed current software).
– Must be used 100% on the project (Examples – connected to laboratory equipment, used solely for data analysis.
– CANNOT BE USED FOR CLERICAL/OFFICE FUNCTION
– Alternatively, costs can be pro-rated if multi-use, split between grants, between direct and indirect.
Grant expiration final accounting report• Yearly review of grants halted due
to budgetary/staff shortages
Infrastructure Issues• Cold Rooms in Scott Hall - being wired with
alarms• RO Water System Upgraded and checked
regularly• Power Fluctuations being investigated• Purchasing – PI’s can work directly with
buyers to improve communication• Procard Changes
Increased maximum charges, further increases possible with justification Use in travel being considered
• New Director of DLAR, Dr. Lisa Brossia- Discussed IACUC improvements- DLAR will soon offer free breeding/weaning services - Cost account review in process
5/6/11 - Meeting with Dr. Parisi• Plan for Dept of Biochemistry – input sought
from Executive Committee, Research Committee, and Budget Committee on not only Biochemistry but the structure of all basic science departments – Thematic vs. classical department structure.
• Department budgets– New budgetary model being considered
for basic science departments.– Salary savings on grants.– All previous commitments will be
honored, but must be submitted for this coming fiscal year
– All funds disbursed on “just-in-time” basis.
– RDC assured by Dean Lee that efforts will be taken to improve timeliness of disbursements.
Incentive Program• History: 1980’s Dean Sokol instituted 40%
rule – if PI covered more that 40% of general fund salary, all $ above this level returned to PI’s Indirect Cost Account.
• 2006 - 2008 University-wide Pilot Incentive Program, 20% of all general fund salary savings returned as bonus.
• Jan. 1, 2009 – present: No Program
• Fall 2009, President Noreen appoints University Committee charged to create a University Wide Incentive program.
- Chair, Assoc. VP Research Dr. Dunbar
• Spring 2010 University Committee submits plan:
- Graduate Student Tuition waiver for GRE’s on Extramural grants
- Bonus based on Salary Savings and Indirect Costs with thresholds needed to be achieved before any payout (thresholds ~ 1 average RO1)
Incentive Program (cont.)• University Incentive Plan Rejected by
Provost Brown• Deans Charged to create their own individual
incentive programs• November - December 2010 - SOM Incentive
Committee created - Chair – Assoc. Dean for Research, Dr. Walz
• First meeting February 23, 2011• - Charged to create Incentive Program that
must be self-funded.• - Committee requested information from the
Dean on what funds may be used (salary savings?, SOM indirect costs?, PI’s indirect costs?).