Office of Sponsored Programs

FRIP FAQs

• What are the new FRIP return rates?
  • The maximum FRIP incentive payment of 25% of institutional base salary is not changing.
  • For FY26, FRIP payments will be issued at a 90% return rate, with 10% retained at the college level to support research and creative scholarship.
  • Beginning in FY27, the standard return rate to individual participants will be 70%, with 30% retained at the college level to support research and creative scholarship.
  • Awards active as of March 1, 2026 are grandfathered at the 90% FRIP rate through June 30, 2028.
  • Effective July 1, 2028, the grandfathering period ends and the 70% rate will apply to all FRIP payments, without exception.
• What does “active as of March 1, 2026” mean?

  An award is considered active if:

  • It has an official start date on or before March 1, 2026, and
  • It has not yet reached its end date, including approved extensions, as of that date.
• How are multi-year awards treated?
  If a multi-year award was active as of March 1, 2026:
  

  • It qualifies for the 90% return rate through June 30, 2028.
  • After June 30, 2028, any remaining FRIP payments associated with that award will be calculated at 70%.

  If a multi-year award begins after March 1, 2026:

  • It will follow the 70% return rate from the start of the award.
• How are continuation or renewal awards handled?
  • Non-competing continuations, meaning incremental funding within the original award period, are treated as part of the original award.
  • Competing renewals or new awards are considered new projects and will follow the return rate in effect at the time of award.
• What happens if an award receives a no-cost extension?
  • If the award was grandfathered and remains active during the grandfathering window, it will continue at the 90% rate through June 30, 2028.
  • Beginning July 1, 2028, the 70% rate applies regardless of extensions.
• How does this affect summer salary?
  • FRIP is calculated independently of summer salary.
  • The removal of the proposed 30-day summer research requirement means that FRIP eligibility is not contingent upon summer salary participation.
  • Faculty may still charge allowable summer salary to grants in accordance with sponsor rules and institutional policy.
  • FRIP payments will continue to follow institutional compensation policies and applicable caps, including the 25% of Institutional Base Salary limit.
• Does this change effort reporting requirements?

  No. All research effort reporting requirements remain governed by sponsor regulations and
  institutional compliance policies.

• Why was the 30-day summer research requirement removed?

  After faculty input and administrative review, the proposed requirement was found to create
  unintended barriers and administrative complexity. FRIP eligibility will not depend on a
  minimum summer research participation threshold.

• Why is the return rate being reduced to 70%?

  The phased adjustment ensures long-term financial sustainability of the FRIP program while
  honoring existing commitments through the grandfathering period. The 30% retained at the
  college level will support research and creative scholarship.

  These retained funds are not administrative fees and are separate from F&A cost recovery.

• Who can I contact with award-specific questions?

  For questions regarding how these changes apply to a specific grant or compensation situation, please contact Jolyn Schleiffarth in the Office of the Provost.