Would anyone allow this as an “other direct cost” on an NSF grant? The answers thus far seem to lean towards personal compensation.

Carolyn Elliott-Farino

Director, Contracts and Grants Administration

Kennesaw State University

770.423.6381

xxxxxx@kennesaw.edu

The University of Arkansas pays for a cell phone plan for some employees.  Employees reimburse the university for personal use costs.  Here is the policy

http://vcfa.uark.edu/Documents/3061.pdf

The policy does not mention grants and contracts, but we would not allow this to be charged except in very special circumstances.

Dennis Brewer

Associate Vice Provost for Research and Economic Development

Director, Office of Research and Sponsored Programs

University of Arkansas

479-575-5624

xxxxxx@uark.edu

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill recently established a policy for mobile communication devices that permits the University to issue a monetary stipend to select employees who meet the policy criteria pertaining to the use of wireless devices for business purposes. The stipend ($35 for voice only plan, $70 for voice and data plan) will be included in the employee’s paycheck, reported on the employee’s W-2 and is subject to all regular payroll taxes.  The policy also indicates that federal grants and/or sponsored projects may not be used to pay the stipend for a MCD unless specifically allowed by the granting agency.

Are there other institutions who have a similar policy and if so have you made any exceptions to allow this type of stipend to be charged to contract and grants? What type of documentation do you require to consider such exceptions and how is the transaction recorded in your financial system?

Vanessa L. Peoples

UNC-Chapel Hill

Office of Sponsored Research
Director, Financial Reporting & Cash Management
919 962-4676

xxxxxx@email.unc.edu

====================================================================== Instructions on how to use the RESADM-L Mailing List, including subscription information and a web-searchable archive, are available via our web site at http://www.healthresearch.org (click on the "LISTSERV" link in the upper right corner) ======================================================================

====================================================================== Instructions on how to use the RESADM-L Mailing List, including subscription information and a web-searchable archive, are available via our web site at http://www.healthresearch.org (click on the "LISTSERV" link in the upper right corner) ======================================================================