Budget Preparation

The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs offers assistance with your research proposal budget preparations.

Budgeting Questions to Ask (for PIs)

Do I need a research assistant? How much time should they work? What is the standard salary?
What materials do I need? Will the equipment I have suffice?
Do I have any long-term maintenance costs?
Do I need to travel for this project? Do I want to present at a conference? Does the grant allow me to request a budget for travel?
What are my publication costs? Do I need a website?
Do I need a consultant or should I arrange a subcontract for my collaborator?
Do I need time off from teaching? How many credit hours?
What about paying myself during the summer? What are the budgetary constraints of the guidelines?
Are there limits on indirect costs and what is the policy that I need to follow?

Please note: Please start budgeting early in the application process, and, the ORSP is here to help you with all of your questions and to assist you in the budgeting process. We will assist in interpreting the grant sponsor’s guidelines and in navigating the college's policies and requirements - regarding released time and indirect costs. We will also assist in navigating the RF policies on hiring personnel and consultants - this makes the post-award process much simpler.

Please contact us at x2061 as early as possible so that we may have ample time to assist you in preparing your budget for the approval process, and at least 10 days before the grant is due if you think your project will require cost sharing of any kind - this includes released time.