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Research reimbursement rate to increase 4.5 percent

A successful negotiation with the federal government will net the University of Kansas an initial 4.5 percent increase in the amount of money the government will reimburse the university for costs associated with federally funded research.

The increase is the first in four years and covers “indirect costs” — research facility construction and maintenance, utilities, libraries and research administration and accounting — that the university incurs to complete research projects. Reimbursement rates vary widely from institution to institution and are generally much higher at private universities than at public universities.

In the previous fiscal year, KU received $21.4 million in reimbursements, which are reinvested to support existing and new research facilities. KU faculty members were awarded $130.5 million in federal research grants in fiscal year 2006.

KU reinvests reimbursement funds to pay for needed research facilities and other needs, said Jim Roberts, vice provost for research and graduate studies.

The reimbursement rate will rise from 44 percent to 46 percent and be applicable to all new grant proposals submitted from the Lawrence campus after July 1. In addition, the rate will increase a half point in 2010 and another half a point in 2011. The new rate was negotiated with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services following an intense and lengthy cost analysis study and campus visit.

Roberts thanked KU Comptroller Diane Goddard, her staff and staff in the research office for completing the negotiations. “They worked hard to prepare a strong proposal and handle the final negotiations. I appreciate everything they did,” he said.

KU IQ

Tim Jankovich was recently named head basketball coach at Illinois State University after four years at KU. He joins a long list of former KU assistants are now head coaches, including Bill Self, who was an assistant at KU in 1986. Coaches, their current positions and their years at KU: John Calipari, head coach, Memphis, 1984-85; Mark Turgeon, head coach, Texas A&M, 1989-92; Kevin Stallings, head coach, Vanderbilt, 1989-93; Matt Doherty, head coach, Southern Methodist, 1993-99; Neil Dougherty, head coach, Texas Christian, 1996-2002; Norm Roberts, head coach, St. Johns, 2003-04.