I have also worked with the on-line system at UA, from the perspective of
the Research and Sponsored Programs Office.  As low-tech and old-fashioned
as it may be, I think that paper reports still provide a service to the
Researchers that a strictly on-line system doesn't - especially those
researchers who don't have someone as capable as Doug to manage them.  If
there were capable departmental personnel available to access the accounting
system and provide the PI's information, then things went smoothly.  But
those researchers who were without adequate support staff almost across the
board would not go to the trouble of learning the accounting system in order
to manage their projects.  And as a result, it would snowball into a bigger
burden to be dealt with.

Even though as PI they should be responsible and accountable, let's face it
- it doesn't always happen.  At Texas A&M I often got calls late in the
afternoon, from someone who just happened across his monthly report and had
found something that they were questioning.  With the strictly on-line
system, my feeling was more one of wondering whether there was anybody out
there.  In an "anything's possible" world, I would suggest somehow giving
the PI's the option of whether to receive reports. That at least puts the
onus back on them, and removes it from administration "setting up this
system that we don't understand."

-----Original Message-----
From: Michael Pelletier [mailto:xxxxxx@EDC.ORG]
Sent: Wednesday, November 22, 2000 11:55 AM
To: xxxxxx@HRINET.ORG
Subject: Written Financial Reports to investigators

At my institution we are considering providing financial reports to
investigators exclusively on line.  We currently provide a monthly
financial statement for each project.  I have two questions for the group:

1) Is there any regulatory requirement that says we must provide paper
financial reports to investigators?  (I have looked at A110, A122 and some
agency guidelines and have not been able to find any such requirement.)

2) Has anyone discontinued paper reports in favor of on line reports and
how was the change ultimately perceived?
]
As always, thanks for your input--

Michael Pelletier
Grant and Contract Administrator
Education Development Center

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