Other Support

Policy number: 10.20

Policy section: Research

Revised Date:

1.  Policy Statement

It is the policy of the University to comply with the federal requirements to train all Principal Investigators/ Project Directors and researchers identified as Senior/Key Personnel on Other Support disclosure obligations and maintain a written and enforced policy ensuring accurate, complete, and timely disclosures of all resources made available to them in support of and/or related to their research endeavors in submissions.

2.  Purpose

Accurate preparation and disclosure of Other Support is a responsibility of Principal Investigators/Project Directors and Senior/Key Personnel. At the time of federal requests, timely and accurate disclosure of all resources supporting research activities is required, including: 1) resources and/or financial support, both foreign and domestic; 2) In-kind contributions, such as lab space, supplies, and/or personnel supported by external sources and high-value materials not freely available such as biologics or technology; 3) support for non-employee Scientists including visiting scholars funded externally, either domestic or foreign; and 4) consulting arrangements related to research activities.

Details of the procedures regarding the current disclosure requirements of Other Support are maintained by the Office of Research and Innovation indexed by the appropriate federal agency.  Updated Other Support resources, including FAQs and sample format pages can be provided upon request.  The Office of Research and Innovation maintains research security training to assist in compliance of this policy.

3.  Applicability

This policy applies to Principal Investigators/Project Directors, researchers, and personnel identified as Senior/Key Personnel on proposals and awards administered by the University.

4.  Non-Compliance and Institutional Enforcement

Failure to comply with this policy may result in delays or inability to submit proposals; withdrawal of a submitted proposal; delays in project setup; and/or inability to expend awarded funds. In addition, federal agencies may at their discretion withdraw applications, suspend awards, or impose additional oversight depending on the status of the disclosure of Other Support.

5.  Roles and Responsibilities

Principal Investigator/Project Director and Senior/Key Personnel listed in a federal proposal or award must complete compliant training on Other Support disclosure within the required timeframe. Senior/Key Personnel are responsible for providing complete and accurate Other Support disclosures at the proposal stage when specified and as appropriate in funding announcements, Just-in-Time (JIT) announcements, and annual progress reports, and for updating disclosures within a specified time frame depending on the agency of any changes.

Departments and colleges/schools (including centers, institutes or divisions) are expected to support compliance by ensuring their investigators complete requirements in a timely manner.

The Office of Research and Innovation ensures that the Principal Investigator/Project Director and Senior/Key Personnel on federal proposals are compliant with training and disclosure requirements. The Office of Research and Innovation will also ensure the required Other Support disclosures are submitted in required formats, are present at the time of proposal/award submission and conform to sponsor instructions.   The substantive accuracy or completeness of the information disclosed remains the responsibility of the Principal Investigator/Project Director and Senior/Key Personnel.

Appendix A: Definitions

“Other Support” refers to all resources made available to a researcher or Senior/Key Personnel in support of, and/or related to, their research endeavors, regardless of monetary value and regardless of whether they are based at the University. Includes active and pending support; in-kind contributions (e.g., lab space, personnel, materials); and outside affiliations.

“Principal Investigator/Project Director” refers to the individual solely responsible for technical conduct of a Sponsored Project, technical contact with the Sponsor, expenditure of Sponsored Project Funding, and fulfillment of technical performance and reporting obligations under an Award. "Principal Investigator” (PI) includes an individual designated in an Award as "Project Director" (PD), when performing the functions of a Principal Investigator, or other individuals performing the functions of a Principal Investigator. For the period of the Award, the Principal Investigator/Project Director must be a full-time employee (staff, tenured or, tenure track faculty, Research Professor, Research Associate Professor, Research Assistant Professor, or, if approved by the Provost or his or her designee, a non-tenure track, non-tenure eligible faculty member) appointed pursuant to University Policy 2.3, Faculty Ranks, Academic Titles, and Voting Rights.

“Senior/Key Personnel” refers to individuals who contribute to the scientific development or execution of a project in a substantive, measurable way, whether or not they receive salaries or compensation under the grant as defined by the designated federal agency.

Adopted: August 19, 2026