What is a Sponsored Project?
Sponsored projects are established when funds are awarded to the University by external sources in support of research, instruction, training, service, or other scholarly activities under an agreement where one of the following conditions applies:
- The award instrument requires endorsement (i.e., a formal signature or other method of acceptance), and binds the University to a set of terms and conditions.
- The agreement obligates the PI to a line of scholarly or scientific inquiry that typically follows a plan, provides for orderly testing or evaluation, or seeks to meet stated performance goals.
- The agreement establishes an understanding of how funds will be used or includes a line item budget that identifies expenses by activity, function, or project period.
- The agreement requires fiscal accountability as evidenced by the submission of financial reports to the sponsor, an audit provision, or the return of unexpended funds at the conclusion of the project.
- The agreement obligates the PI to report project results or convey rights to tangible or intangible properties resulting from the project. Examples of tangible properties include equipment, records, technical reports, theses, or dissertations. Intangible properties include rights in data, copyrights or inventions.
- The agreement requires considerations such as indemnification or imposes other terms of legal accountability.
- The agreement prohibits or inhibits the University or the PI from carrying out any activities normal to an academic setting
