1. The vice president for academic development (VPAD), the dean for faculty development and research (DFDR), and the Office of Grants and Sponsored Programs all provide assistance and administrative coordination for applications requesting funds from government agencies, foundations, corporations, and other sources. Day-to-day responsibilities are delegated to the Office of Grants and Sponsored Programs, which will work with faculty to assist with grant applications. When notification of an available program comes directly to a department and the department wishes to make application for a grant, the Office of Grants and Sponsored Programs should be notified of this intent as soon as possible (not later than one month in advance of the closing date for the application). Scheduling should be coordinated with the Office of Grants and Sponsored Programs to allow two weeks for the review of draft proposals in appropriate administrative offices. Direct and indirect costs must be computed, and, in cases for which College matching funds are required, the necessary administrative approval must be obtained.
2. Each research or other project proposal (or formal preliminary proposal that includes an estimated budget or commitment of academic year term) to an outside agency requires the approval (using the Grant Proposal Endorsement Form) of the chair of the department in which it originates. In this approval the department chair certifies that the proposed project is consistent with departmental and College research objectives and policy, that space and facilities for effective performance are available, and that the individual initiating the proposal and such other personnel as may be required will be available without interference with their academic duties and will be able to perform the research or other project effectively.
3. Following approval by the department chair, the research or other project proposal (or formal preliminary proposal) must be approved by the dean for faculty development and research. An endorsement from the provost, vice president for Academic Affairs and dean of the faculty, vice president for academic development, dean of curriculum, director of the Sciences, director of the Arts, or the vice president for Academic Affairs and dean of the Schools may also be required. Modifications of the proposal as they may deem necessary or desirable will be made at this time.
a. Winter term course releases are typically the easiest for a department to absorb and replace, and should therefore be given primary consideration.
b. Having a course release does not reduce obligations in advising, committee service, or chairing departments and programs.
c. In order to ensure continuity in the curriculum and equity in course loads, no more than three years out of a five-year period may include grant-funded released time for a given faculty member.
d. It is expected that faculty with course releases will mentor more research students. Wherever possible, funds to pay for student research assistants should be built into the grant budget.
e. Faculty compensation for the purpose of the proposal is computed at 18% of the faculty member's annual salary per course release, plus benefits.
a. If academic policy permits instructional personnel to devote time during the academic year to research contracts or grants, the approval of the department chair and the DFDR, as appropriate, is required. The chair and DFDR will identify the appropriate proportion of time that may be allotted to research, and to instructional work, for the purpose of determining the proper distribution of academic year salary.
b. Applications incorporating provisions for extra pay for research or other project work normally will be approved to provide for up to two months of extra work during the summer. One month's summer salary is equal to 1/9th of the annual contract salary for the prior academic year. Exceptions to this policy must be approved by the VPAA/DOF, upon recommendation of the director of the sciences, director of the arts, or DFDR.
c. The budget incorporated in the project application should make the maximum allowable provision for indirect cost reimbursement.
d. All direct costs comprehensively defined will be reflected in the budget incorporated in the project application. When faculty apply for outside funding to support academic leaves, the level of support from the College is understood to be 75 percent of stated salary for a semester leave and 55 percent of stated salary for a year's leave.
e. The adequacy of provisions in the proposed budget for equipment, building alterations, power consumption, etc., must be verified by the Office of Grants and Contracts Administration in consultation with the budget director, the director of Facilities Services, and other appropriate officials and the chair of the department originating the proposal; provisions for salaries must be made in consultation with the vice president for Academic Affairs and dean of the faculty, or director of Human Resources, as appropriate. All applications in which support is requested for the purchase of computers or software or central technology needs must be approved by the associate vice president for Information Technology or designate.
f. If the application calls for a cost share to be provided by the institution, the Grant Proposal Endorsement Form must include the Middlebury budget number from which these funds will come and an authorizing signature.
g. If the application calls for purchase of equipment requiring maintenance after a warranty period, there must be a budget number to be charged for maintenance.
h. All grant proposals must disclose any family relationship between any individuals named in the proposal using the Family Relationship Disclosure Form. No family members may be paid with grant funds unless that relationship was disclosed in the proposal or disclosed to the Office of Grants and Contracts Administration after receipt of a grant award.
i. Any "Significant Financial Interest" (as defined by Federal and College policy) must be disclosed, using the Financial Conflict of Interest Disclosure Form, to the controller at the time of submission. After a grant is funded, interests must be disclosed at least annually and at any time such an interest arises. In lieu of the aforementioned requirement, proposals to and grants awarded by any public health service entity including the National Institutes of Health are governed by the PHS/NIH Financial Conflict of Interest Policy posted on the Middlebury College website.
j. The application and/or letter transmitting it to the sponsor must state that payment of the contract or grant be directed to the controller and disbursements from it made under his or her direction. All accounting and financial reports will be handled by the Office of the Controller (or designate) or Office of Grants and Contracts Administration.
6. The director of Grants and Contracts Administration is authorized to sign all grant applications on behalf of the College when he or she is satisfied that all the above conditions have been met. A copy of the complete proposal must be provided to the Office of Grants and Sponsored Programs.
7. Upon receipt of contract or grant funds in response to an application approved and executed as set forth above, all procedures then in effect for disbursement of Middlebury funds from the regular Middlebury budget will apply. Middlebury must be at least as scrupulous in handling external funds as in handling its own funds, and in some instances will be called upon to observe even more meticulous requirements.
Commitments to pay for additional personnel must be cleared with Human Resources before such commitments are made. All purchases must be covered by a purchase requisition identified with the budget number and comply with Middlebury purchasing and payment policies and procedures in advance of making the purchase commitments. Determination of whether or not proposed purchases or other charges are allowable under the terms of a grant or contract will be made by the director of Grants and Contracts Administration, who may require the prior approval of the sponsoring organization.
8. Middlebury College has a primary responsibility for the scholarly needs of its faculty. Middlebury also recognizes its concern for the continued scholarly productivity of faculty departing for other institutions.
d. The conditions under which the equipment or funds used to purchase it were secured do not preclude disposition. "Critical" equipment is defined as equipment essential to research personally conducted or directed by the faculty member. The individual requesting the equipment has the responsibility for demonstrating to the College his or her need for that equipment for the continuation of his or her personal research.