Greetings fellow administrators, 

 

P.L. 106-107 and other federal grant streamlining initiatives notwithstanding, some federal sponsors continue to require the submission of reports that are duplicative and burdensome.  For example, some Department of Energy sites require that the Quarterly Progress Report include not only information about the status of the work on the project, but also detailed expenditure information:  budgeted and actual, current and cumulative project expenditures (by expense category) and current and cumulative cost share contributions.  At the same time, quarterly financial reports are also required.

 

Faculty researchers generally don’t have ready access to the financial information required on these Quarterly Progress Reports.  In addition to reporting on the developments of their work, in order to complete these progress reports, researchers must also coordinate with departmental/central administrative staff to obtain financial information that likely administrative folks have already reported on.  Where’s the streamlining and burden reduction?

 

I’ve seen similar duplicative requirements from other federal sponsors as well.  Does anyone know of any efforts underway to reevaluate the need for some of this redundant reporting?

 

Thanks!

 

Jennifer

Jennifer Fisher
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Associate Director, Research Administration & Finance
(518) 276-6924 (voice)
(518) 276-2839 (fax)
xxxxxx@rpi.edu