CHaSS Research Resources

 

Best Practices in Grant & Proposal Writing:

• This best practices resource provides guidelines to follow in proposal writing for humanities and social science funding opportunities.

RFAST (Research & Financial Admin Series Training)

• RFAST Training, offered by the USU Office of Research, is required to ensure that researchers are aware of regulations and USU’s related policies and procedures. This training should be done early in the process. It takes about an hour and can be started and stopped. 

Grant Proposal Development Support

• CHaSS provides grant proposal development support for institutional extramural awards. Please engage with Grant Support Specialists early in the process.

USU Facilities & Administration (Indirect Cost) Rates

• Utah State University has a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA) for facilities and administration rates. This agreement is negotiated between USU and a federal agency because USU receives federal funding. These rates are used for all F&A costs on USU grants.

Distribution Rates for Facilities & Administration Costs

• All extramural funding will include F&A costs unless there is a published limit stated by the award sponsor. CHaSS has established a standard distribution allocation for facilities and administration funds.

Petition for CHaSS Dean's F&A Waiver

• In unusual circumstances in which the elimination or reduction of F&A funds is deemed necessary and of substantial benefit to the PI, college, and university you may petition for a waiver.

Institutional vs. Individual Research Awards

• Institutional awards are those that are paid directly to Utah State University. All institutional awards must flow through Sponsored Programs.
• Individual awards that are those that are paid directly to the researcher, most often during a faculty member’s summer months or research leaves.

CHaSS Internal Funding Opportunities

• CHaSS has internal funding opportunities.

Institutional Review Board (IRB)

• The IRB is an independent committee charged with the ethical review, revision, and approval of research involving human participants. Research projects that involve human subjects (including class projects and scholarship of teaching and learning) must have their projects reviewed and approved by the IRB.
• CITI Training is required for all researchers prior to submitting through Kuali.

Sponsored Programs Rules and Regulations

• All institutional extramural grants must be reviewed and submitted to Sponsored Programs. Sponsored programs requires receipt of proposals, with internal routing already completed through Kuali, four full days before submission deadline. 

USU Office of Research Trainings, Funding, and Opportunities

• The University’s Office of Research provides research development support and training to USU faculty  PIs.
  
  • Research Training Calendar & Opportunities 
  • Annual Faculty Proposal Writing Seminar 
  • Arts & Humanities Grant Writing Seminar 
    • This training is similar to the Annual Faculty Proposal Writing Seminar but its emphasis is on humanities and arts opportunities. It is offered every other (even years) spring semester.
  • Office of Research Seed Grants 
    • The USU Office of Research provides university-level seed grants in support of extramural funding opportunities. These first route through individual colleges and then onto the USU Office of Research. Two cycles: Due January 8 or June 8 to CHaSS.

Research Data Management Plans

• A data management plan or DMP describes how research data will be generated, described, stored, and made accessible. DMPs are often required as part of grant proposals. USU Libraries in cooperation with the USU Office of Research has developed many resources and examples on DMPs for USU researchers.

Conflict of Interest (COI)

• The Division of Research Integrity and Compliance (DRIC) is responsible for managing all Conflicts of Interest (individual and institutional) that are related to research.
• Employees are required to submit CoIs annually as well as:
  • Within 5 days of a change to the employee’s Significant Financial Interests
  • Every time the employee submits a new proposal through the Sponsored Programs Office