RAG52 Central Matching Funds Program for Research Assistantships / Traineeships

Contents:

• Purpose
• Guidelines
• Central Matching Funds Example
• Approval Procedures
• Access to Matching Funds
• Further Information
• Cross References

PURPOSE:

This program is intended to lead to more competitive research proposals and to increase the number of externally funded University research assistantships/traineeships by making Central matching funds available for support of research assistantships/traineeships as proposed in an externally funded research project.

GUIDELINES:

1. Central matching funds for the support of research assistantships/traineeships are available only when a research proposal is submitted to an external agency/sponsor seeking funds for the support of research assistantships/traineeships, and the sponsor requires matching.
2. All requests for Central matching funds are reviewed in the Office of the Senior Vice President for Research (OSVPR), and approval is subject to meeting these guidelines and the availability of funds. The approval of Central matching funds is not automatic.
3. Research assistantship/traineeship costs that may be included in the calculation of the Central matching funds include stipend, student summer wages, fringe, and tuition.
4. Requests for GA funds will be considered only if the Central matching fund contribution exceeds $10,000 annually.
   • An exception will be reviewed when the research assistantship/traineeship costs are included in a career development/young investigator proposal or a high-profile research proposal/project as determined by the research dean/institute director, in consultation with OSVPR.
5. Central matching funds may be requested up to a maximum of 10 percent of the total research assistantship/traineeship costs supported by the sponsor [defined in (3)] or 50 percent of the F&A amount with the research assistantship/traineeship costs included in an externally-sponsored proposal. The PI, in conjunction with the relevant research deans, can choose which mode of matching to follow.
6. College/institute/department matching funds must total an amount equal to or greater than the total GA match requested from Central. The matching funds committed from the colleges/institutions/departments must be used to support research assistantships/traineeships [defined in (3)] associated with the externally-funded project. The central matching form (see link below) must be completed including the research dean's/institute director's signature, which indicates that the college/institute/department matching funds are confirmed.
7. There is no guarantee that an untimely request will be reviewed to meet a proposal deadline. Request forms should be submitted at least one week before the sponsor deadline.
8. Central matching fund commitments expire eighteen months from the date of approval on the approved match form. If after eighteen months, the match is still needed, a new match form should be submitted to centralmatch@psu.edu.

CENTRAL MATCHING FUNDS EXAMPLE:

An investigator is applying for a graduate training grant and includes 8 students on the sponsor's budget. The sponsor costs for 8 students are equal to $288,000 and the F&A related to those costs are $144,000 (round numbers are used in these examples for demonstration purposes and do not precisely reflect actual costs).

APPROVAL PROCEDURES:

1. Requests for Central matching funds must be approved by the research dean or institute director and submitted using the appropriate Central matching funds request form. The form must be completed including the research dean's/institute director's approval, which indicates that the college/institute/department matching funds are confirmed.
2. A proposal budget and a budget page including only assistantship/traineeship costs and F&A must be submitted with the Central matching request funds form, excluding personal salary data if considered confidential.
3. If the Central matching funds request is approved, the Senior Vice President for Research will sign the form. An approved copy of the Central matching funds request form will be electronically disseminated to the appropriate research dean(s), institute director(s), research administrator(s), PI(s), and submitting staff. The approved Central matching funds request form will also be sent to the relevant Central staff.

ACCESS TO MATCHING FUNDS:

1. If a proposal is awarded, the relevant research office must request an Internal Order (IO) in their business unit for funds to be collected.  Working with the Unit Financial Officer, a request is emailed to centralmatch@psu.edu, to include lead PI name, OSP number, fiscal year the request, what year of funding, amount of transfer, business area of the unit receiving funding, IO number, or a copy of the email of the central match approval form. Then OSVPR will start the transfer.  If you have further questions, please reach out to your unit financial officer or centralmatch@psu.edu. 
2. If a proposal is awarded with a revised budget from the sponsor/agency that decreases the research assistantship/traineeship support, the amount of Central matching funds must be recalculated to comply with the above guidelines and resubmitted through the appropriate Central matching funds request form.
3. If a proposal is not awarded, the relevant research office must send an e-mail to centralmatch@psu.edu indicating that the matching funds may be released.

FURTHER INFORMATION:

For questions, additional detail, or to request changes to this policy, please contact the Office of the Senior Vice President for Research or the Office of Budget and Finance.

CROSS REFERENCES:

RAG51 - Central Matching Funds Program for Research Equipment

Revision History:

• October 31, 2024 - Edits made to request process and funds pick up to include links to on-line form.  
• July 10, 2023 - Changed Corporate Controller to Office of Finance and Business or Associate Vice President for Budget and Finance.  
• September 16, 2019 - Changed Vice President for Research to Senior Vice President for Research
• February 26, 2016 - This new guideline (incorporating old RAG03 and RAG21) has been created as part of the policy reorganization brought about by implementation of the Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200).
• April 27, 2011 - New Policy Guideline