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Indirect Cost Recovery Fund Huron Consulting Final Report Jim Rankin Report to Faculty Senate April 13 2011
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Project Objectives and Scope To identify recommended revisions to the current formulas, policies, and procedures that might enhance the impact of these important funds to support overall strategic research objectives.
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Summary Observations Recovered F&A is approximately $7-8M per year UA stakeholders state the indirect cost distribution lacks transparency and clarity. Significant other sources of university funds – above and beyond recovered F&A – also support the research enterprise. Significant opportunities available for F&A funds, including core research facilities, research administration, and research development. 21 recommendations in the report
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Research Activity Recommendations 1.Research Activity – Invest in strategies aimed at strengthening the research enterprise and capturing increasing amounts of externally- funded research and other sponsored projects 2. Effective Indirect Cost Recovery – Increase effective indirect cost recovery Possibly limit distribution of RIF to generating units only on projects for which the maximal allowable F&A rate is being recovered. – Develop a policy on F&A rates – Effective rate over recent two year period: 11.5%
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Research Activity Recommendations 5. Supporting Centers and Institutes – Explore a more uniform approach to distributing a share of RIF to productive research centers and institutes on campus 6. Council of Center Directors – We recommend that UA create a “Council of Center Directors.” 11. Guidelines for Voluntary Cost Sharing – Develop guidelines for voluntary cost sharing aimed at minimizing such expenditures with less than optimal effectiveness and return on investment.
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Research Management Recommendations 4. Unit Expenditure Accountability – Explore development and implementation of enhanced research investment accountability processes for its units. 20. Research Investment Report – Develop, and share with the university community, a “Research Investment Report.” 21. Research Management – Conduct additional examinations related to strategic management of the research enterprise.
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F&A Investment Recommendations 7. Research Administration – Devote a share of the RIF to bolster and support central research administration services – e.g., RSSP 8. Core Facilities – Devote a share of RIF to supporting central core research facility coordination, management, and support
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F&A Investment Recommendations 9. Faculty Start-Up – Devote a share of RIF toward faculty start-up 10. Cost Sharing – Devote a share of RIF for cost share funds
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F&A Investment Recommendations 12. Research Development – Devote a share of RIF to establish an Office of Research Development with defined goals and activities 16. Radiation and Hazardous Waste Disposal – Devote a share of RIF to support radiation and hazardous waste disposal costs 19. Joint Research Opportunity Fund – Devote a share of RIF to a “Joint Research Opportunity Fund” directed by the VPRED, Provost, and VCFA
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General Fund Recommendations 13. Graduate School – Transition RIF supporting Graduate School to General Funds 14. Academic Affairs – Transition RIF supporting Academic Affairs to General Funds 15. Research Facility Debt Service – Transition RIF supporting current research facility debt service to General Funds
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General Fund Recommendations 17. General Fund Investment in Research – We recommend that UA no longer explicitly distribute recovered indirect costs to UA’s General Fund – Although General Funds are being used for research- related activities and investments, it lacks transparency 18. Libraries – Continue to support the libraries’ missions using central and unit General Funds – Explore mechanisms by which library-specific research costs can be funded by faculty start-up packages.
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College/Unit Recommendations 3. Generating Unit Distribution – We recommend that UA transition over time to distributing a common, reduced share of recovered indirect costs to all generating units. – This is being separated into two parts: College of Engineering RIF percentage reduced from 80% to 40% RIF percentage for all units reduced from 40% to 35%
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Timeline Timeline for implementing recommendations – Immediate (FY12) – we will be considering those items that impact VPRED, Academic Affairs, and General Fund – Intermediate – Core facilities, center and institute support, Research Development, – Longer term/ Phased in – Changes to College and Unit F&A
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THE FULL REPORT MAY BE FOUND ON THE VPRED WEBSITE AT: HTTP:// VPRED.UARK.EDU
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