About the Department

Recreation, Park and Tourism Management Policy Manual

Grants and Contracts

RPTM Policy (Updated 3/13/07)

A major expectation for our department is for us to pursue external support for our research efforts. Faculty who contribute to this end not only advance their individual research agenda but contribute to
the health of the department is many ways. Their scholarship and associated publications increase the overall scholarly productivity of the department. In addition, funding associated with grants can impact the operating budget of our department and allow us to do advance some important initiatives.

This document has been developed to enhance understanding of how faculty can contribute to the operation of the department and thereby enhance the health of the department. Faculty can contribute to the financial operations of the department when they pursue external funds by (a) pursuing salary
savings, (b) designating funds for graduate assistantships, and (c) including indirect charges.

Salary Savings: Request salary savings during the academic year.
If a faculty member desires to buyout of a course it is important that they write into the grant 15% of their salary for that purpose. If a course buyout is negotiated between the investigator and department head, then buyout funds are taken to pay for a graduate assistant ($6,000 - preferred) or instructor
($4,000) to teach a course. Buyouts are contingent on the faculty member, in collaboration with the Department Head and relevant Professors-In-Charge, finding a qualified individual to teach the course. Faculty members can not buyout of all of their teaching assignments in a given year. If faculty buyout of courses their research expectations increase.

After buyout is financially covered, the remaining salary savings are then divided equally between researcher and the department. If no buyout is negotiated then funds are divided equally between the researcher and the department. When asked to participate in a project with faculty from another
University, faculty members are encouraged to create a subcontract that includes salary savings during the academic year. On the issue of summer salary, it is desirable that faculty request salary savings during the academic year in addition to summer salary to provide indication that the project will require faculty time throughout the year. Funds requested during the summer are used to pay faculty’s summer salaries.

Graduate Assistantships: Request funding for graduate assistants. If investigators include funding for an assistantship, then it is anticipated that each assistantship will be matched with an HHD assistantship.

Indirect costs: Pursue funding agencies that pay for indirect costs. 8% of the total indirect costs are returned to the department. These funds will be divided evenly between the investigator and the department.