SPARC Continuity During COVID-19

Yes! Please let SPARC know as soon as possible. While support is expected to continue as normal, allow extra time for proposal review and submission given that we are working remotely and relying on electronic communications. Note that some sponsors are extending submission deadlines.

Please contact your Dean or the Vice President of your unit. If you are a CAS faculty member, instructions are available on the CAS Dean’s Office webpage.

Generally, yes. Sponsors are being very flexible under the circumstances. PIs who would like to explore options for a no-cost extension or who anticipate delays in submitting project deliverables or required reports should communicate directly with their Program Officer and SPARC.

Please see the IRB response to COVID-19 dated March 17, 2020 and contact the IRB at irb@lclark.edu with any specific questions.

Yes! The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), the Institutional Review Board (IRB), and the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) will continue to meet virtually. Please allow as much time as possible for review as there may be a delay or change to the regular meeting schedule.

Check with the airline to see if they will give you a refund or credit. SPARC will help you determine how any non-refunded charges should be allocated.

Proceed with caution, as COVID-19 is creating uncertainty around travel, especially international travel. Only purchase tickets or reservations that are refundable in case you are not able to travel or the event is cancelled. The Travel Restrictions currently in place at Lewis & Clark apply to grant-funded travel.

Yes, but in most cases, purchases of supplies should be delayed while staff are working remotely. The same rules about allowability apply, so please contact SPARC if you have a question. Maintaining appropriate documentation will be very important. Approvals for financial transactions can be provided through electronic signatures and/or email, and submitted to Accounts Payable. The Business Office is working remotely and there may be delays in processing time.

Yes. SPARC expects to continue to provide budget status reports on a regular basis and upon request via email.

Not necessarily. Lewis & Clark’s hiring freeze applies to all positions, student or staff and regardless of the source of funding. PIs who want to request an exception and hire someone to work remotely should follow the process outlined by the College.

Yes. If employees will be engaged in the project and are able to continue work remotely they can charge salary and wages proportional to the work performed on the project. Please see the College’s telecommute guidelines. Given the unexpected and across-the-board nature of the COVID-19 crises, the College has relaxed some requirements of this policy (e.g. every employee is not required to have an individual work-at-home contract on file).

If your approved budget includes summer salary, you may charge salary and wages proportional to the work performed on the project. SPARC will contact PIs in May via email to confirm summer plans and salary. The new Compensation Review Policy applies to all federally funded compensation.

Although federal and other sponsors are being flexible about project timelines, do not assume that supplemental funding will be made available due to COVID-19.

You may not receive compensation from a grant-funded project if you are not working on the project. Let SPARC and your Program Officer know your plans. SPARC can help you determine the best way to contact the sponsor.