Research Administration Update

• University Research Administration (URA) will host a workshop for grant administrators on Monday, January 27th from 10:30am-2:30pm. This is a great opportunity to learn more about OMB Circular A-110 which outlines administrative requirements for university grant agreements. See the attached flyer for details. For more information or to RSVP, please contact Susan Boone at 2-5060 or susanb@ura.uchicago.edu.
• URA has updated it's website. Please visit them at http://www.uchicago.edu/adm/ura/ and check out the new items. Compliance Issues Revisited
• Costs charged to awards must be for goods or services that benefit the award. If a cost benefits the award and other activities, it must be distributed to the award and other activities in accordance with paragraph 3 of the university's Financial Policy No. 2109 which can be found at http://adminet.uchicago.edu/admincompt/finpolic/2109.html.
• Costs charged to an award must be incurred or obligated during the award's period of performance. Incurred and obligated costs are supported by evidence of payment, invoice or purchase order with dates that fall during the award's period of performance. For more information, see Section 28 of OMB Circular A-110 (don't forget to register for the workshop!) at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/circulars/a110/a110.html#28.
• Not all costs that benefit an award are allowable. For example, business meals are generally not allowed on awards, but are allowable if specified in the award budget. See Financial Policy No. 1013 at http://adminet.uchicago.edu/admincompt/finpolic/1013.html for more information on unallowable costs.
• Most financial reports for awards are due 90 days after the end of the period to be reported. Please note, though, that some awards require reports within 45 days. Carefully read all award notices and note these details.
• When closing out an account or changing account numbers because of a new budget year, please remember to cancel or transfer all standing orders, phone services and animal care services as these will continue to be charged to a particular account until notice is given and/or service terminated. Supporting Document Requirements for Reimbursements (in other words, do this or don't get paid...)
• Reimbursement requests for travel and other expenses are often submitted with insufficient supporting documentation. The guidelines for reimbursements can be found at http://adminet.uchicago.edu/buypay/reimburs.html. Please review these requirements before submitting reimbursement requests.