Programs funded by grants involve the efforts of the University faculty, administrations, staff, and occasionally, students – as well as the use of the University’s facilities and resources – in order to advance the mission of the University.  Grants are awarded to Rockford University, not to the individual faculty, staff, or departments.  Accordingly, the University has the responsibility of monitoring the grant process to assure that no proposal is submitted that would impose budgetary or academic obligations on the University that it is not completely prepared to fulfill, or that the University determines to be inconsistent with its mission.  Therefore, the V.P. / Provost of the grant applicant’s department, the Chief Financial Officer, and the President must all approve of any grant proposals for research, programs, projects, etc. before the application process can begin.

Work performed by faculty or staff members in preparing grant proposals and in carrying out grant programs / research on behalf of Rockford University is considered to be part of the faculty / staff member’s duties and responsibilities.  Funds requested for salary reimbursement for time spent on grant projects must reflect the actual salaries of the individual faculty / staff involved.

Rockford University encourages research and upholds the basic rights of any individuals writing for the University.  On work performed during normal contract periods, all grant products (including copyrights and patents) shall be shared equally between the University and the grant applicant, unless otherwise specified in the grant, contract, or research agreement.

Rockford University has an indirect cost allowance of 10% that must be included in all federal and non-federal budgets submitted, where allowable.

• Advancement is available to conduct research on the grant applicant’s behalf to find a potential match of funds for a specific project. The project must align with the institution’s mission and provide institutional benefit.  Priority will be given based on a “first come, first serve” basis.  Projects will be prioritized based on institutional benefit.  The grant applicant should prepare a summary of need and submit it to Advancement.  Please allow four working weeks for Advancement to provide funding opportunities.
• Advancement and the Business Office are responsible for providing all necessary assurances, compliance statements, etc. and are responsible for ensuring that the University has on file all appropriate compliance assurances required by funding agencies.
• The ultimate responsibility for meeting the funding agency’s submission deadline lies with the grant applicant. If the funding agency specifies a deadline date for submission, the grant applicant is responsible for delivering the proposal and any required copies (plus one copy for the University’s records), to Advancement one calendar week before the proposal deadline.  Advancement will be available to help submit the proposal to the prospective funder and with any follow-up contacts prior to a funding decision.

• The grant applicant has the primary responsibility for managing the budget of the grant. Advancement will relay the Notice of Award to the grant applicant and the Business Office, once an award is received.  The Business Office will assist the grant applicant in setting up the grant budget account.  Unless otherwise stipulated, the grant applicant is responsible for managing the affairs of the grant.
• The grant applicant is also responsible for meeting the deadlines for all grant project reports required by the funding agency. Advancement will be available to send out reminders and provide advice and editorial and other assistance, if requested.  A copy of all project reports must be forwarded to the Advancement Office and the Business Office for the University’s records.