Core Finances

• Requests for OR Operating Support should be made in the Annual Report (section 5); requests are for the following fiscal year
• Requests for OR Operating Support are for core facilities within FSM, WCAS, McCormick, and OR (including OR Centers); FSM provides additional operating support for core facilities [Note: the types of operating support that may be requested from OR are different than those requested from FSM, as described below]
• Requests for OR Operating Support are meant to encourage activities that enhance the research enterprise
• All support is in the form of reimbursement after expenses have been incurred.
• Requests for OR Operating Support should indicate how the funds will support the facility. Requests must fall into one of the following general categories:
  • External Equipment Grant writing (must have faculty appointment and be PI on the proposal)
    • Note: If funds are provided for grant writing, PI's are not eligible for donating equipment to the core through the voucher program.
    • $2,000 maximum award. Core staff must be a PI on the grant.
  • External Advertising
  • Professional Development (conference attendance)
    • List as Education and Outreach in Appendix. Describe conference (include link), who will attend, and how it will benefit the core.
    • $3,000 maximum award.
• Requests for Operating Support are NOT intended for the following purposes:
  • Covering costs for any project already underway
  • Renovation of space (direct request to appropriate Department/School)
  • Formal teaching initiatives (e.g. credit courses listed with the Registrar)
  • Deficit Reduction
  • Rate Reduction
• Note that past allowable requests for operations support to develop new services or expand services will now be reviewed as part of the grants program.
• Note that if a core is currently receiving Operating Support from OR, it is not eligible to receive additional support through this program

For full information regarding the process of obtaining institutional support, please see OSR’s Process for Obtaining Institutional Support.

All core facilities are expected to complete an annual cost study before the start of each academic year. This is a university requirement and necessary in order to charge sponsored projects for services. Annual cost studies must be approved by the Office for Cost Studies. For full information regarding the process of performing a cost study, please contact Jennifer Wei, Director of Cost Studies & Effort Reporting (jennifer-wei@northwestern.edu) or visit the website.

Recharge Rate Calculation Template

Recharge Rate Calculation Template Instructions

If your facility provided services for external customers in the previous fiscal year, please complete the UBI spreadsheet and send the completed form to CoreFacilities-Finance@northwestern.edu by November 15. Please answer the following questions on the form: facility name, name of customer’s company or organization, status (for-profit or non-profit), name of person who used the facility, amount of revenue received for each project, project period, was technical assistance provided (if so, please describe), was there joint research activity with an NU employee (if so, please describe), did this activity further the educational or research mission of the University (if so, please explain), will the results be published, were you conducting commercial testing?

For reference, please use the Frequently Asked Questions document.