I'll reinforce what others from predominately undergrad institutions
have said - we have had some, but mixed, success getting NSF to
pay part of the faculty member's 9-month salary - not an
enhancement or overload but the time the PI spends on project (and
away from other responsibilities).  We also have a 4+4 teaching
load.  The first rule is to talk with theprogram officer - I have had
them say tha they understand the neccessity (at non research
instiutions) for paying for faculty time and I have also had them say
NSF "never" does.

One strategy is to ask for the replacement cost - adjuncts etc often
come at much lower rates than full-time faculty.  Give the faculty
reassigned time, have NSF pay for the adjunct and consider the
difference in pay as cost share.  We have, on occasion also justified
overload pay to another fulltime faculty member from a federal
award.  That person was the only available qualified instructor and
the overload  followed institutional policy for other similar situations.
It was justified that way in the proposal and accepted by NSF (as
well as by other agencies).  I think the key here is to demonstrate
that the pay is going for the teaching duties, which then allows the
PI the time to devote to research, and that it is all following
institutional policy.

Richard

On 8 Oct 2003 at 17:51, Fred Averick wrote:

> Hi--
>
> It has been our understanding that NSF did not generally pay for what we
> call course buyouts (where the teaching load of a faculty member is
> reduced if s/he can get a grant to pay for a piece of his/her salary).
> One of the senior faculty members here says that she was informed by
> people that this isn't the case.  Looking on their website, it seems
> unclear, except for this passage from the NSF grant proposal guide:
>
> "NSF regards research as one of the normal functions of faculty members
> at institutions of higher education. Compensation for time normally
> spent on research within the term of appointment is deemed to be
> included within the faculty member's regular organizational salary.
> Grant funds may not be used to augment the total salary or rate of
> salary of faculty members during the period covered by the term of
> faculty appointment or to reimburse faculty members for consulting or
> other time in addition to a regular full-time organizational salary
> covering the same general period of employment"
>
> But this passage seems to be talking more about increasing someone's
> compensation, which we're not doing.  I called NSF and was told to speak
> to someone in the Policy office, who hasn't gotten back to me yet.  I
> also did a search on Google and saw a few other universities mentioning
> that NSF would not support a buyout.
>
> Does anyone have any hard info/experience with this?
>
> Thanks in advance,
> Fred Averick
> Sponsored Research Administrator
> Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences
> New York University
> 251 Mercer Street
> New York, NY 10012
>
>
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--
 Dr. Richard H. Moore
 Assistant Vice President for Grants and Sponsored Research
Coastal Carolina University           Internet: xxxxxx@coastal.edu
P.O. Box 261954                          Voice: 843-349-2050
Conway SC 29528-6054                       FAX: 843-349-2726

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