Dear Faculty Colleagues:
Scholarly research is one of the most important functions of a University, and the ability of a University to attract research funding not only enhances our scholarship and ability to prepare student scholars, but also reflects the reputation that our human and organizational resources enjoy among our federal, state and private sponsors. I am pleased to announce a change in Seton Hall’s use of grants, effective this fiscal year, designed to provide additional incentive and additional resources to those seeking grants and their departments and colleges.
Many grants and other external supports provide indirect costs to assist with the expenses an institution bears that are not uniquely linked to the research activity but are nonetheless necessary (such as the space in which the research is conducted, administrative support, etc.) The default allocation of these indirect costs at Seton Hall is for 10% of these funds to be made available to the Principal Investigator, 10% to the PI’s department, and 10% to the PI’s college, with the remainder allocated to the general expense budget of the University. This year, if the revenues in the Indirect Funds account exceed a threshold, an additional 25% of the indirect funds will be allocated more directly to research centers. Most notably, reflecting the crucial role that academic departments play in modeling, promoting, and facilitating the acquisition and fulfillment of grants, the academic department’s share of the indirect costs will be increased from 10% to 20%. If the threshold is met this fiscal year, designation of the remaining 15% will be determined.
The threshold for FY12 is $120,000, which is very attainable given that it was exceeded in five of the past six years and the revenue in the appropriate account as of January 19th is $71,000. The threshold for the new allocation formula may be adjusted for FY13 and subsequent years.
Thanks,
Greg Burton
Associate Provost and Dean for Research and Graduate Services
