Research Development Committee Report May 19, 2011.

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?).

Website for RDC Minutes

http://www.med.wayne.edu/faculty_senate/StandingCommittees.htm#research