Updates from Sponsored Programs to BU’s research community.
Proposal Summary Form (PSF) Updates, New Required NSF HERD Survey Data Fields and Limited Submission Opportunity
Sponsored Programs has released an updated Proposal Summary Form (PSF). NSF HERD Survey Reporting As part of Boston University’s ongoing efforts to improve the accuracy and efficiency of NSF Higher Education Research & Development (HERD) Survey reporting, two new required fields have been added to the Proposal Summary Form (PSF): NSF Research Type NSF Category […]
Special COI and COC Requirements for DOE Researchers
On July 16, 2026, the Department of Energy (DOE) issued updated regulations regarding conflicts of interest (COI) and conflicts of commitment (COC) applicable to applicants and recipients of DOE awards. The new rule has a short implementation timeline and takes effect on August 17, 2026. The full DOE policy may be found here. Key Changes […]
SAC Reporting Dashboard Updates
Boston University Sponsored Programs is pleased to announce two important enhancements to our SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC) reporting environment designed to improve access to information, strengthen financial oversight, and support data-driven decision-making across the research enterprise. MyGrants, a reporting tool previously developed specifically for Principal Investigators, is now open to all research faculty and staff […]
Personnel Activity Reports (PARs) Have Been Distributed to Department Administrators/Effort Coordinators
To comply with Federal Regulations, all Boston University employees who are paid from Sponsored Research funds receive a Personnel Activity Report (PAR) on a semi‐annual basis to review and certify their salary and effort. PARs for the period January– June 2026 have been distributed (the week of 8/10/2026) via email to department administrators/effort coordinators. All […]
Free Login: Upcoming Webinar Hosted by NCURA – September 2026
The National Council of University Research Administrators (NCURA) has two upcoming webinars that are free for all members of the BU community (no membership required). How to register To participate, Research Blog recipients may use the link that was provided in the email. If you do not have this email, please use the contact form […]
BU Leaders Ask Federal Government to Reconsider Changes to Research Grants’ Approval Process Rules
Boston University has written to the US Office of Management and Budget (OMB), opposing a proposed rule that would change how the federal government awards research grants. The letter was signed by President Melissa Gilliam, Provost and Chief Academic Officer Colin Duckett, and Vice President and Associate Provost for Research Kenneth Lutchen. Read the full […]
New Effort Reporting Faculty Cap Worksheets
We are pleased to announce the addition of two (2) new faculty cap worksheets: Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) Faculty CAP Worksheet Department of Justice (DOJ) Faculty CAP Worksheet Each new worksheet has the same format as the current NIH/DHHS Worksheet, and both are located in the Salary Cap section on the Effort Reporting page. […]
IRB to Implement Huron Online Tool for Research Submissions
We are pleased to announce that the Charles River Campus (CRC) Institutional Review Board (IRB) is working to implement Huron’s online submission tool to support human-subjects research administration on the CRC. This initiative aligns with campus-wide efforts to streamline research administration and follows successful implementations of Huron modules in other research components, including Financial Conflict […]
Free NCURA Webinar: Federal Landscape Updates and Legal Perspectives – June 24
The National Council of University Research Administrators (NCURA) has an upcoming webinar that is free for the research community. How to register To participate, use the below link to register via Zoom. No NCURA login is required and this event will not be saved to your NCURA profile. The link may be freely distributed. June […]
Free Login: Upcoming Webinars Hosted by NCURA – June 16 and July 16
The National Council of University Research Administrators (NCURA) has an upcoming webinar that is free for all members of the BU community (no membership required). How to register To participate, Research Blog recipients may use the link that was provided in the email. If you do not have this email, please use the contact form […]