What is Effort Reporting?

Effort reporting is the University’s method of verifying that the salaries (and corresponding fringe benefits) charged to, or cost shared for, a sponsored award reasonably reflects the activity for which the employee is compensated. It also serves as a method to certify that the level of effort promised, or committed, to the sponsor was met.

Effort is defined as the portion of time spent on a particular activity, expressed as a percentage of the individual’s total activity for the university. University effort includes all activities for which an employee is compensated and includes research, instruction, other sponsored activities, administration, non-sponsored/departmental research, university service, proposal preparation and clinical activities. For the purpose of effort reporting and certification, ‘university effort’ totals 100%, regardless of the number of hours worked or the individual’s appointment percentage.

The University’s Effort reporting process satisfies the federal government’s requirement under 2 CFR Part 200 (Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards) section 430- Standards for Documentation of Personal expenses that charges to Federal awards for salaries and wages must be based on records that accurately reflect the work performed.

 

Quick link to: Effort Reporting & Commitments (ERC) System