Q. What is the appropriate object code to charge Universal Tuition Scholarships for research assistants?
A. Object code 3782. Continue to use 3711 for tuition charged on training grants.
Q. If tuition was not in my original grant budget, may funds be rebudgeted now to cover tuition?
A. Yes, as long as the sponsor does not prohibit charging tuition. Most rebudgeting can be done within the university, without additional sponsor approval. Contact your Research Administrator in the Office of Sponsored Projects Administration (OSPA) to ask about your specific grant.
Q. Is indirect cost assessed against tuition payments?
A. If the full indirect cost rate is used, tuition is excluded from the base in the same way that equipment is excluded. However, if a rate other than the full rate is used, tuition may not be excluded. Contact OSPA if you have a question about your grant.
Q. May I pay the tuition for a single research assistant on more than one account?
A. Yes. In fact, if you are charging a grant for any portion of the tuition, the charge may not exceed the proportion of time the research assistant is working on that grant.
Q. Will the universal tuition amount always equal the amount for an in-state student?
A. No. The charge was $4100 for academic year 2002-2003, is now $4600 for 2003-2004, $5100 for 2004-2005. Amounts for the next two years will be announced soon.
Q. Should a different amount of tuition be charged to training grants?
A. You should continue to budget for the maximum amount of tuition allowable for each training grant program. A method to identify training grants and trainees will be announced at a later date and tuition will be charged to these accounts.
Q. Will the department be required to pay tuition for a student in 0 credit hour status?
A. No.
Q. May I charge a grant for summer tuition for the research assistant working on the grant?
A. No. Grants must be charged consistent with university policy. The university is paying for regular semester tuition only. The university will continue to provide the out-of-state portion of tuition for nonresidents during the two summer sessions as appropriate.
Q. Am I required to budget tuition on any proposal I submit now that includes a research assistant?
A. Your department will incur an obligation to cover tuition for the research assistant when a GSAS is submitted. If the sponsor allows tuition, you should include it in your proposal budget or the chair must approve the payment as cost sharing from another source.
Q. When must a grant account be active in order for tuition to be charged?
A. Each semester the Graduate School will announce a date that is approximately half way through the semester. As long as the grant is active on that date, tuition may be charged. This will typically be the academic semester midpoint.
Q. What if the research assistant is not enrolled full-time?
A. Tuition liability for part-time students will be pro-rated according to their actual registration. The charge for the 2003/2004 academic year will be $256 per credit hour.
Q. How can a program pay for the part of fees that the Graduate School doesn’t cover?
A. Programs can still submit SAG forms to the Office of Student Financial Aid to pay for the University Health Fee ($93.75 per semester) and the Seaton Fee ($50.00 per semester). Otherwise, the student is responsible for these two fees.
Q. How does a PI whose grant pre-dated RA Universal Tuition appeal for assistance with the liability?
A. For the 2003-2004 academic year, contact the Dean of the Graduate School, Dr. Jeannine Blackwell.
Q. How should a college decide to which account tuition should be charged?
A. Colleges may charge 2, 3, 4, or 5 ledger accounts, depending on where funding is available.
Send questions to tom.hanna@uky.edu.
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Last updated May 13, 2005