Laura Coward
lcoward@csusm.edu
(760)750-4744

Contact Us: Corporation Staff Directory
Email Us: sponsoredprojects@csusm.edu
For the most up-to-date information on the incident response. Please visit the CSUSM Corporation FAQs and the CSUSM Incident Response Status. These are continuously being updated as new information becomes available.
CSUSM Corporation COVID-19 FAQs
CSUSM Incident Response Status
The CSUSM Incident Response website also offers resources, helpful links, Campus Communications and information from the Chancellors Office.
Given that COVID-19 and the associated impacts continue to evolve, Principal Investigators/Project Directors (PI/PDs) are strongly encouraged to monitor announcements from funding agencies and sponsors for changes in policies, practices, procedures, deadlines, operating hours, communication methods, etc.
Visit the Council On Governmental Relations (COGR) website:
White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
These flexibilities are applicable to NIH applicants and recipients where the entity is conducting research activities related to or affected by COVID-19. Affected entities are those that have been closed, or business activities have been hindered due to COVID-19 precautionary measures and/or illnesses. Entities that are affected will be asked to provide documentation to NIH describing the effects, and how long their facility and NIH related research, clinical practices, or instruction was and/or will be affected.
National Science Foundation (NSF)
OSP encourages all investigators to develop a contingency plan and communicate it to your research teams. The plan should touch on the following, as applicable:
Can personnel salaries continue to be charged to the sponsored project? Personnel salaries may continue to be charged for employees that are still able to perform work on projects.
PIs can work with school deans for immediate support services needed on your sponsored project.
OSP’s business hours continue to be Monday-Friday 8 AM to 5 PM. The staff is telecommuting with the following in-office schedule:
Day In Office |
OSP Staff |
Monday |
Trina |
Tuesday |
Kim |
Wednesday |
|
Thursday |
Zack |
Friday |
|
When staff are not in the office, they can be reached via Teams phone and email.
OSP will no longer be accepting hardcopy documents (i.e. Direct Pays, Petty Cash, etc) for review and approval. If you need an approval signature from OSP, please email documents to your SPA or sponsoredprojects@csusm.edu.
Please consult your specific award terms and conditions to determine when prior approvals are required. Even if your sponsor is sympathetic with the delay, it is generally necessary to modify any contracts to reflect revised deliverable schedules.
Various funding sources are used to support those carrying out research. If sponsored by an external entity, that sponsor will have specific policies on continuing to charge salary when unable to work. Written sponsor permission to do so will be required.
For NIH funded projects, if a recipient organization’s policy allows for the charging of salaries and benefits during periods when no work is performed due to the effect of COVID-19, regardless of the funding source, including Federal and non-Federal, then such charges to NIH grant awards will be allowable. (NOT-OD-20-086)
Reminder: NIH awarding Institutes/Centers (ICs) may request documentation to confirm the requirements of institutional policies.
If the individual is working remotely and contributing to the project, then salary can be charged to the grant.
If an individual cannot contribute to their current project but can contribute to another sponsored project or school activity, the salary must be moved to that funding source.
The PI/lab should document and retain information on the staff and related compensation that is charged to each award when no contribution is made to the project.
These type of expenses are generally considered facilities and administrative (F&A) costs and are not allowable as a direct cost to sponsored projects unless specifically approved by the sponsor. Refer to sponsor policy, guidance, and updates.
Examples may be: laptop, printer, office supplies
The answer depends on your subaward terms and the underlying regulations (e.g., federal regulations) that may apply to your project. Please confer with your SPA for guidance and questions regarding notification content and process.
If it's an official subaward, the subrecipient's travel policy takes precedence, unless the sponsor has travel restrictions we're obligated to flow down.
If the traveler is coming to CSUSM, please attempt to postpone the trip.
Every effort should be made to obtain a full or partial refund from the vendor (airline, hotel, conference organizer, car rental, etc.) and any refunds should be credited to the same project that the purchase was made. If costs cannot be refunded, they may remain charged to the project if allowable by the sponsor. If the sponsor disallows these costs, CSUSM Corporation, in consultation with the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research, will work with PIs to determine how to cover the costs.
Travel expenses that have been incurred using a stateside chartfield string can be reimbursed and should include the COVID19 Cancellation Memo and include the class code in the chartfield string as advised by Partners in Campus Business Operations (class code 25601 – Emergency Ops Ctr Coronavirus). See the CSUSM Corporation COVID-19 FAQs for travel expenses incurred on a CSUSM Corp project.
Our mission is to support CSUSM faculty and staff with the management of successfully awarded proposals by providing expertise, assistance, education, and oversight of extramural sponsored projects and research. We review, negotiate, and accept contracts and grants on behalf of CSUSM from federal and state agencies, foundations, and other public and private sources. We also draft, negotiate, and execute awards and subawards for collaborative research, and prepare and maintain policies and procedures intended to ensure that CSUSM can adequately support proposed projects and fulfill the requirements of awarded grants and contracts.
Additionally, our team provides guidance to assure proper stewardship of funds that are received. We work closely with faculty and administrators to ensure financial compliance and proper accounting of externally sponsored funds. OSP’s financial management responsibilities include cash management, financial reporting, award closeout, and effort reporting. We also assist Principal Investigators/Project Directors to prepare, review, and submit non-financial post-award changes (e.g., No-cost extensions, Rebudgeting, Change of PI, Award transfer, etc.).
Thursday, April 27, 2022, 11am - 12pm
July 28, 2022, 11am - 12pm
October 27, 2022, 11am - 12pm
January 26, 2023, 11am - 12pm
Zack Weaver
zweaver@csusm.edu
(760)750-4714
The Sponsored Project Analysts (SPA's) are assigned to support specific Principal Investigators/Project Directors. They are available to help answer questions once an award has been received.
In Order by Last Name of PI
Kim Askew
kaskew@csusm.edu
(760)750-4705
Laura Coward
lcoward@csusm.edu
(760)750-4744