As a recipient of federal research funds, SDSU Research Foundation is required to have an approved method of verification for payroll expenses. In lieu of time reports, we rely on after-the-fact certification by faculty that the distribution of payroll shown is a reasonable approximation of how their time was spent. Effort shown includes direct pay from the research foundation, reimbursements from the research foundation for university released-time and/or cost-shared effort in the form of university assigned time.

Why is effort reporting required?

• The federal government requires that we track, report and validate all compensated effort
• It provides an accurate estimate of your time for both SDSU & SDSURF
• It serves as a faculty "timecard” and is a more accurate reflection of effort over a semester.

Certifying your effort report

• SDSU Research Foundation’s electronic effort reporting system is available via PI Profile.
• Effort is certified three times per fiscal year – Summer, Fall/Winter, Spring/Spring Break.
• After each reporting period, an email is sent with a link to the electronic effort reporting system and instructions on how to certify.
• This is your opportunity to make corrections. Once certified, it becomes more difficult to make retroactive corrections (i.e. re-allocate/move salary expenses between funds).
• ONLY someone who has first-hand knowledge can certify your effort
• Net FTE% Column on the effort report shows how your pay was allocated for the reporting period. Is it an accurate estimate of your effort?
  
  If yes, select “Certify” at the bottom of the report.
  
  If not, select “Conditionally Certify” and indicate the necessary changes in the comments field.

For questions regarding effort reporting, contact: Dorothy Williamson at 619-594-6359 or dwilliamson@foundation.sdsu.edu

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