Research@KU

Research Administration

News and announcements regarding research administration

Tips on spending research funds
There is no better time than the start of the academic year for a quick refresher on spending guidelines for sponsored projects. Here are a few tips:

1. Federal guidelines require that all purchases be:
• Allowable:  The purchase must fall within the parameters set by institutional and sponsor policies and OMB Circular A-21;
• Allocable:  The purchase must have a direct benefit and be clearly attributable to the project;
• Reasonable: The cost must be reasonable and necessary to the completion of the sponsored project; and
• Consistent: Costs, in similar circumstances, must be treated in the same manner. 

Charges that do not meet all of the above criteria should not be charged to sponsored projects. OMB Circular A-21 provides further guidance online.

2. All spending must be completed within the dates of the project. While some invoices may not post until after the project’s end date, all personnel and purchasing obligations must occur by the end date of the grant.
3. Equipment purchases in the last 3-6 months of a project may cause auditors to question whether the equipment is of benefit to the project. There are some circumstances in which late purchases are necessary; however, most equipment purchases planned for the last three months of the project are not allowed without prior approval from the sponsoring agency.
4. KUCR is here to help. The Sponsored Program Administration (SPA) contact, listed on the sponsored project budget summary, can assist you with questions about spending project funds.

Nonresident Alien Tax Compliance Workshop planned for October 5
KUCR will host the 4th annual Nonresident Alien Tax Compliance Workshop on Thursday, October 5 on the Lawrence campus. The all-day workshop will focus on case studies and recent changes in the area of nonresident alien taxation. Donna Kepley of Arctic International will be the featured speaker.  

Employees of Kansas institutions of higher education are eligible to attend. E-mail kucrworkshop@ku.edu for workshop and registration information.

KUCR participates in national survey of Grants.gov
KUCR recently participated in a survey of Grants.gov, a portal website that allows organizations to search and apply for federal funding, sponsored by Council on Governmental Relations (COGR) and the Federal Demonstration Partnership (FDP). The survey covered issues such as usability, functionality, and anticipated future volume when all federal agencies utilize the portal site. The full text of the survey and responses are available on the KUCR website. Questions about the survey may be directed to Amy Patty, grant officer, at 864-7423 or apatty@ku.edu.

Annual sponsored project surveys due Sept. 15
The Office of the Vice Provost for Research distributes an annual survey of sponsored projects to all principal investigators (PIs) on the Lawrence campus. PIs are asked to verify the accuracy of the project listing, examine the credit allocations and center assignments for each project, and make necessary changes in the boxes provided. The survey also asks PIs to indicate whether each project is related, directly or indirectly, to specific areas of study. This year's survey responses are due September 15, even if no changes are required. The OVPR appreciates the efforts of PIs participating in the survey, which is critical to the accuracy of reports that depict research activity on the Lawrence campus.

Staff changes
The following staff changes occurred during August:

• Jeremy Struemph, grant specialist, sponsored program administration.
• Ann Spitz, licensing associate, technology transfer and intellectual property.