Martha, due to an enormous explosion on campus a few years ago (when we wrote a few depts into a proposal without their knowledge), I am required to obtain signatures of faculty/staff other than the PI/PD who will be involved in the project the proposal means to fund.  So I added some additional signature lines on our approval form.  Even though I got singed in the explosion, I think it's a good procedure.

Has it prevented bad things from happening?  Not that I know of, but it does remind me and others to avoid those last-minute exigencies.  I still can exercise considerable flexibility.

I have considerably more flexibility with collaborators from off campus, but I usually insist on some sort of evidence that they are aware of what we're saying.  Never had an explosion involving an external collaborator, though, and hope we never do.

In the case you described, I would probably cut this guy a little slack--assuming he's trustworthy and you know independently that what he says is true.  I would probably also alert the provost (to whom I report) to this special deal, either in general or when I bring her the next proposal from this guy.

On the other hand, does he have a real reason for bypassing your rule?  Do his co-proposers work different hours or at a different site?  Or is he just lazy?  If lazy, I don't think I'd be too sympathetic.

Regards, Bill

Bill Campbell
Director, Grants & Research
University of Wisconsin-River Falls
715/425-3195
xxxxxx@uwrf.edu

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