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[ Frequently Asked Questions ]
- How long before I'm applying for a grant should I wait to come and speak to IRTL staff?
When you know you will be applying for a grant, as much notice as possible is helpful for the IRTL staff. Ideally, one month prior to the deadline is generally a good time to inform the IRTL staff that you will be applying for a grant. However, there are exceptions to this general rule. For example, a two to three month notice for a grant involving numerous subcontracts with international activity would be preferable. Advance notice of a few days to a week would be acceptable for a submission with a simple budget and no required forms. Keep in mind that your submission is usually not the only one that staff is working on at that time. It is best to give as much notice as possible to the IRTL when applying for a grant to allow for budget development/ revisions, signatures, subcontract paperwork, etc.
- Who do I inform if I find out that my grant submission was denied?
If you find out that your submission was denied, please let the office of the IRTL know as well as Ginny May in the Deanšs office.
- Who is responsible for obtaining signatures on the MSU Transmittal and any agency forms I might have?
Lynne Frechen is mainly responsible for obtaining signatures on the MSU Transmittal and any agency forms. Signatures normally include: Project Leader, Department Chairperson, Dean's office, and Contracts & Grants. If you are jointly appointed, please let the IRTL staff know in order to obtain additional signatures. If you have faculty from other colleges on your project, signatures are also required from their departments.
- How can I find out what the deadline is for the grant I am applying for?
If you are unable to locate the deadline for a grant you are applying for either via the agencyšs website or from printed information you may already have from the agency, contact Lynne Frechen to confirm a deadline.
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- How do I determine what cost share I am allowed to put in the grant?
The amount of cost share to include in your grant budget is normally determined by the amount that is requested in the Request for Proposal (RFP) or Request for Announcement (RFA). At times, a program may request that cost share must be shown for 10% or 20% of the total project budget. Cost share is usually shown as salary, fringe benefits, and overhead (indirect) and is negotiated between the Project Leader, Department Chairperson, and Gail Nutter.
- How early should I begin working on my grant submission?
A Project Leader should begin working on a submission as early as possible. Some submissions require letters of support from schools, colleges, or local businesses. Other submissions require complicated data analysis or a preliminary human subjects approval from UCRIHS. If a subcontract is involved, MSU normally requires a statement of work and a letter referencing the amount of the subcontract signed by a person at the organization with budgetary authority. These items take time compile for the submission; therefore it is wise to begin working on a submission as early as possible.
- How do I become registered as a Fastlane (NSF's electronic submission system) user, and how do I obtain a password?
In order to become a registered Fastlane user, contact Lynne Frechen and provide the following information: highest degree, year conferred, and social security number. This information will be sent to MSUšs office of Contracts and Grants with a request that you become a registered Fastlane user. MSUšs officer for NSF grants will submit the information to Fastlane and will provide a password to Lynne. This password will be kept confidential in the office of the IRTL as well as shared with you.
- What constitutes a one course buyout?
Tenured faculty need 25% for the academic year or 50% for a semester to buyout one course. The 2nd buyout can be at 12.5% for the year, if approved by the department chair. Junior faculty need 12.5% for the year to buyout a course. It is expected that senior faculty submit 25% and junior faculty submit 12.5% time on a grant budget. If a budget is submitted for less than these percentages, a course buyout is not honored and a note from the Project Leader is required stating that they are not expecting a course buyout.
- What is MSUšs current indirect/overhead rate?
MSUšs current indirect/overhead research rate is 51%. The rate for other sponsored projects is 40%, and the rate for off campus projects is 26%. These rates went in to effect on 7/1/04 and continue through 6/30/08 and have been negotiated by the Department of Health and Human Services. These rates are charged against all direct costs except equipment, graduate tuition & fees, and amounts in excess of the first $25,000 of each subcontract. See The Contracts and Grants website for further information regarding indirect/overhead
- How do I proceed with a grant application to a Foundation?
In order to apply for a grant to a Foundation, clearance is required from the MSU Development Office. If you are thinking of applying to a Foundation, please email Lynne Frechen to obtain clearance. You will need to supply the following information: Foundation to which you are applying, title of your project, brief summary of the project, and approximately how much money you will be requesting.
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- . Is there "boilerplate" information available regarding the College of Education/MSU to use in the general resources section of my grant application?
An institutional capability statement is being developed and will eventually be posted on this site under The Faculty-Staff Section.
- Am I required to have secretarial time included in my grant budget?
The College of Education strongly suggests that you budget for secretarial time in your project budget. The amount is determined by the amount of full time equivalents (FTEs) the budget has in it. Generally, 1.5 FTE will require 25% time be budgeted for a secretary (including fringe benefits). If a budget does not reach the 1.5 FTE, clerical support is shown as hourly support.
- How are fringe benefits calculated on faculty and staff?
Fringe benefits for faculty and staff are calculated using the Specific Identification (SI) method which is based on a personšs annual base salary. For details go to The SI Method Website regarding the SI method.
- What is the approximate cost of a Level III, 50% graduate assistant for the full annual year?
Please see the chart below for the graduate assistantship costs.
| 50% AN | 50% AY | 25% AN | 25% AY |
| Base: $ 37,824 | 18,912 | 14,184 | 9,456 | 7,092 |
| Health Insurance | 1,638 | 1,638 | 1,638 | 1,638 |
| Tuition & Fees | 7,805 | 6,130 | 7,805 | 6,130 |
| TOTALS | $ 28,355 | $ 21,952 | $ 18,899 | $ 14,860 |
Note: figures are based on a Level III graduate assistant for 2006 - 2007.
The College of Education's current graduate assistant stipend rates.
(Click the above link to view the stipend rates)
Fringe benefits are applied as a flat dollar amount for health and a separate flat dollar amount for tuition and fees. See The SI Website and click on "Grad Summary Chart" for detailed information regarding graduate assistant fringe benefits.
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