Faculty research accounts and hiring

Date: Thu, Apr 2, 2020

Dear Colleagues

I am writing regarding the use of faculty research accounts in this challenging moment for the University. As you have all read in Provost Flemming’s message, the University is being very cautious at the moment, and is trying to limit all discretionary expenses to prioritize non-discretionary expenses such as salaries.

Specifically the University has asked that: we not allocate any additional research or travel funds this academic year; that we constrain travel and research expenses on existing accounts (especially over the next 90 days); and we limit new commitments for the 2020-21 academic year.

For Wagner this implies that expenses from faculty research accounts (including professional accounts, discretionary funds, and Associate Dean funds you may have been awarded) will be routinely approved only for a limited set of exceptions:

Continued payment of professional dues and subscriptions
Reimbursement for services already rendered

In general, please seek approval before undertaking any expense for which you will seek reimbursement, including, but not limited to:

Tech / equipment absolutely necessary for teaching classes
Travel and registration for conferences occurring over the summer or for next academic year

You can submit planned expenses to Faculty Support, who will guide you through the approval process. Please note that, given the circumstances, we will have to be abstemious in approvals. For travel, the University's guidance is to “hold off until federal health guidelines and university policy become less restrictive and the situation becomes clearer,” and in general we will stick to this.

The following categories of expenses will typically not be reimbursed while the University has suspended in-person activities:

Meals and catering
Travel

The University has also instituted a hiring pause for student employees that will extend for 60-90 days. This applies to any student employee, new or continuing. This pause will be revised in late April and any changes to the timeline will be communicated by the University.

As per Wagner’s usual policy, unused professional account balances can rollover for one academic year; other funds will continue to be administered under the conditions of the awards. We will revisit these guidelines in 90 days or when the University revises its policy.

I understand that this is not what we would have hoped for and, indeed, is exceptional. These are unfortunately exceptional times.

With regards,

Rajeev