Rice University Research Policy No. 311-98

SALARY SUPPORT THROUGH ORGANIZED RESEARCH

1. Faculty Compensation

Rice University is committed to a goal of providing full funding from University funds for all regular faculty positions during the academic year. For purposes of faculty compensation, the academic year is defined as the nine month period from August 16 through May 15. For each University fiscal year, the maximum total compensation from outside sources that can be earned by a faculty member on a full-time academic year appointment shall normally not exceed 3 months pay at a rate of one-ninth of their academic year salary. Faculty members who do not have a full-time appointment, or who have an appointment of more or less than nine months, will still have an approved maximum total compensation set by the University. Exceptional salary supplements are permissible under certain circumstances as detailed in Policy No. 216-97, Outside Activities of Faculty and Faculty Fellows.

Faculty members engaged in research may receive compensation for work on sponsored research projects consistent with the terms and conditions of each funding source. The amount charged to a research project may not exceed the time and effort devoted to the project in the period for which the faculty member is paid. Adequate funds must be available within the project being charged in order for the salary to be paid. At the request of the Principal Investigator and the responsible Dean, the Provost may allow a portion of the academic year salary to be charged to sponsored research projects.

All salaries for faculty members paid from sponsored research projects are subject to the same income tax withholding rates and FICA that apply to the person's academic year salary. Fringe benefits will be calculated on the salary charged to the research project at normal University rates. When a sponsored agreement specifically prohibits charging fringe benefits, the department must identify another source of funds for payment of the benefits before the salary can be charged to the sponsored agreement.

2. Staff and Students

The University ordinarily expects that compensation for staff and student personnel working directly on sponsored research projects will be charged to the sponsored project. When an externally funded research project requires employment of staff and/or student personnel, the duration of employment is contingent upon the continuing availability of external support for the position. Benefits eligible staff should generally use all benefit days before funding for the position expires; any exceptions must be approved in advance by the department chair, who then must identify a departmental funding source for this expense. The person making the hiring decision is responsible for informing the staff or student being hired of these conditions.

3. Proposal Salaries

All University employee salaries are based on merit and do not include automatic cost-of-living increases. However, in preparation of multi-year proposals, the salary support for University employees participating in the research should be incrementally increased for each fiscal year. The Office of Sponsored Research will provide advice on the appropriate rate(s) to be used in this calculation.

Supersedes:

Policy No. 311-90

Revised January 15, 1998