We are in the process of implementing a new ERS system.  One of the
points of the system that is consistently made is that is that there is
no such thing as a 40 hour work week.  Percent effort should be reported
based on actual time spent (whether 20 or 100 hours).

I am no longer clear on what to do when budgeting for a proposal.  What
University standards need to be in place to assist PIs in determining
their percent effort?

We have always allowed faculty to use hourly rates (converted from
8-hr. day base for 9-months), monthly rates 1/9 of contracted amount, or
% effort.  Should we now only use % effort and not hours proposed?

Faculty are expected to spend time between teaching, service, and
research.  How have institutions assigned percent effort to teaching and
service?  For example, if a faculty member has a two course load a
semester what percentage of their time should this be?  Or what percent
effort can we allow to be budgeted for research if we know they still
have a teaching and service load?  We don't want to force faculty to
budget based on a 40 hour week when they say they will be working 60.
We also don't want to allow them to charge to a grant based on a 100
hour week as this seems unrealistic.

Are there any documents that we should review on this issue?  How other
institutions are handling this?  Any advice would be appreciated.

Karen Henry
Assistant Director
Office of Research Administration
Boise State University
1910 University Drive
Boise, Idaho 83725
(208)426-1571
xxxxxx@boisestate.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.hrinet.org (click on "Listserv Lists")
======================================================================