Office of Sponsored Programs


Establishment of Office of Sponsored Programs | more

FY '09 Fringe and F&A (Facilities & Administration) Rates | more

Spoken Word Artist Sarah Kay to perform at Rowan | more

Rowan percussionists welcome renowned Japanese drumming group for concert event | more

Rowan Opera performs 'Suor Angelica' and other selections in an evening of classic works | more

Establishment of Office of Sponsored Programs

(01/23/2009)

A Message from President Donald J. Farish

Establishment of Office of Sponsored Programs

To support the involvement of faculty and students in research activities, our Associate Provost for Research, Dr. Gautam Pillay, has been meeting with faculty and administrators in all colleges and departments to assess interests and opportunities for research and to receive recommendations for administrative improvements to managing research at Rowan. He has developed several recommendations that I have approved to simplify the processes associated with seeking and obtaining research support from external sources.

One of the most significant changes is the consolidation of all research grants and contracts activities into one support office that assists faculty and staff in the research proposal and award implementation processes. Effective 20 January 2009, this Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) will be the single source for information and for administration of all research and /creative activity grants and contracts on campus. Reporting to Dr. Pillay, OSP will be directed by Peggy Schoen and will be staffed by Leigh Botner, Peggy Pedrick, and Mark Zorzi. OSP?s location and contact information will remain the same as that of the former Office of Government Grants and Sponsored Projects - Bole Hall Annex, extension 4124 (from off-campus,256-4124) or http://www.rowan.edu/provost/grants/index.cfm

Also effective 20 January 2009, Dr. Pillay will have the authority to sign all research-related proposals, grants, contracts, and documents on behalf of the University.

In the coming weeks, OSP will also deliver simplified application forms, an electronic submission process, and other improvements in the management of research activities. Please contact OSP or Dr. Pillay at extension 5150 (from off-campus, 256-5150) or pillay@rowan.edu if you have any questions.
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FY '09 Fringe and F&A (Facilities & Administration) Rates

(01/01/2009) FY '09 Facilities & Administration (F & A) Rate: Effective 7/1/08- 6/30/11, Rowan's federal facilities & administration (indirect cost) rate for on-campus is 75% and 31.3% for off-campus projects where rent is directly charged. These rates are for use on all grants, contracts and other agreements with the federal government. These rates should be applied to direct salaries and wages only. It does not apply to benefits or any other direct expenses.

FY '09 Fringe Rate: Full-time Regular Employees: 36.05%; Part-time Employees: 7.65%; Faculty Summer Salary and Supplemental/Special Assignment Salary during the academic year: 7.65%.

Note: Fringes are no longer charged on student salaries.

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Leveling the NSF Playing Field

August 31, 2009

Colleges and universities contribute significantly to the cost of federally sponsored research projects, through what they spend on research labs and equipment, faculty start-up packages, and "indirect" costs that aren't reimbursed by the government.

At various points, federal agencies have either required or encouraged them to quite literally "share" the costs of research grants they win, essentially putting up their own funds to match a portion of the grant's value. The practice has been debated, though, with proponents arguing that it shows institutions' commitment by forcing them to put their own "skin in the game," but detractors saying that requiring or encouraging "cost sharing" puts less-wealthy colleges and universities at a disadvantage against wealthier peers, and can lead grant reviewers to favor proposals from institutions that volunteer to contribute even though that isn't supposed to factor into the decision making.

The 2007 American COMPETES Act asked the National Science Board to weigh the pros and cons in reassessing the cost sharing policies of the National Science Foundation, and the board issued a report Friday that calls for ending the practice of "voluntary" cost sharing in all circumstances, while continuing "mandatory" contributions in a small number of industry-focused federal programs as recommended by an interim report the board issued last year.