Space Survey for FY 2012

What is a Space Survey?

A space survey is the process of: •Verifying the physical attributes assigned to rooms/space (department, room type, etc.)•Assigning institutional space into the Office of Management and Budget A-21 functional categories (Instruction, Organized Research, etc.) based on space use.

Why is the Space Survey Important?

• Space survey results will be used to calculate the Facilities portion of the Facilities and Administrative (F&A) rates that are submitted to the Federal Government.

• WVU must submit a new F&A rate proposal based on FY 2012.

• Results are guaranteed to be audited by our cognizant Federal agency.

WVU’s F&A Rate and Potential for Growth

Government’s perspective on Space

• Believe it’s the most equitable means to allocate space related costs

• Space should match the base

• Important for Departmental Space Coordinators to be adequately and consistently trained

• Inconsistencies and/or errors with coding space can result in significant disallowances and reductions in the University’s F&A rates

What is the Role of the Departmental Space Coordinator?

• Act as the primary department contact for space survey issues

• Be the primary source for room use and room occupants

• Be the key link to Principal Investigators and other personnel involved with sponsored projects to discuss space coding

• Knowledgeable about the financial accounts of the department

Space Survey

• Rooms assigned to each department• Square footage of room• Room type (classroom, research lab, office)• Occupants • Functionalize consistently

–Prorate using total time spent (not 8 hours/day)

–Average for whole year – Identify funding source for Organized

Research and Other Sponsored Activities

Functional Definitions

• Instruction and Departmental Research (IDR)

• Organized Research (OR)• Other Sponsored Activities (OSA)• Departmental Administration (DA)• Other Institutional Activities (OIA)• Animal Quarters (ANQ)• Vacant( VAC)

Instruction & Departmental Research (IDR)

• Space used for teaching and sponsored training activities, course preparation, classroom instruction, study areas for students, academic advising of students by faculty, and any other activities that involve credit or non-credit.

Instruction & Departmental Research (IDR)

• This also includes Departmental Research activities which are research, development and scholarly activities that are not separately budgeted and accounted for (and don’t meet the definition of Organized Research).

Organized Research (OR)

Research & Development (R&D) activity that is either:• Sponsored Research •University Research – R&D activities supported by either of the following

– Cost share expenses that support organized research projects.

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Organized Research (OR)

– WVU/WVURC funded projects that have at least two of the following characteristics:•Defined scope of work,•Separately budgeted and accounted for,•Specific commitment regarding

deliverables and the level of personnel effort,

•Utilization and assignment of space,•A formal report or response summarizing

results/conclusions.

Departmental Administration

• Space used by department heads, deans, faculty or clerical staff for department administrative purposes that benefit multiple departmental activities.

• This includes common use space that is utilized by the entire department that may include copy rooms, conference rooms, break rooms, and file rooms.

Other Sponsored Activities (OSA)

• Space used for activity that is neither research nor instructional, however funded by an external source (grant, contract, or cooperative agreement).

• Examples of such programs are health service projects, drug studies (human subjects) and community service programs.

• WVU Extension public service functions are coded as OSA.

Other Institutional Activities (OIA)

• Space used in conducting activities that cannot be classified into any other functional category. Consider the previous functions prior to selecting this category.

• Patient Care Activities (except as they are related to sponsored clinical trials or drug studies).

• See Space Inventory Guide for more examples. (alumni activities, fundraising, public relations, student clubs or organization activities, etc.)

Vacant (VAC)

• Space that is not being used now and has been vacant for more than six months of the fiscal year FY12.

Sample Work Plan

• Preparation – List of Faculty and Faculty Offices and Labs – Identify all Post-doc’s, Research Associates,

Lab Tech’s– List of Graduate Students by type GRA and

GTA– Room listing (WebSpace)– Account listing with PI– Floor Plans

• Review Documents• Definitions• Space and accounts

Sample Work Plan

• Complete Survey– Identify and functionalize DA (Departmental

Admin)– Identify and functionalize all 100% Instruction &

Departmental Research• Class labs w/o OR• Classrooms

– Determine functional % for the remaining space and assign accounts

• Coordinate with Dept. Chair• Coordinate with Faculty• Conduct Interviews, visits• Use professional judgment

Sample Work Plan

• Update Results in WebSpace• Review final results• Submit Space Survey Certification to Cost

Accounting• Organize Work/Results for Potential

Review • Documentation VERY IMPORTANT

– Retain sufficient documentation to support the coding of space – particularly Organized Research space. Federal Auditors will come to WVU and walk the space to review coding.

Considerations

• Rooms coded 100% Org. Research• Too many rooms 95:5• Graduate Research Assistants/Students

(How are they funded when in the lab – do they do homework in the lab?)

• Visiting Professors and Emeritus Faculty– If space provided as a courtesy and not paid with WVU funds,

space should be coded as OIA

• Seed Money and Overhead Return Funds – most often should be Instruction/Departmental Research

Considerations

• Proposal Writing – If for a sponsored agreement, should be DA. If for a gift, should be OIA.

• Conference Rooms • Department Libraries – usually DA• Shared Labs – consider how both areas use

the lab and who is in it.• Class labs and Classrooms - Instruction• Faculty offices – remember to consider all the

student advising, office hours, mentoring, etc.

Potential Audit Issues

• Lack of experience in A-21 functional use definitions

• Interpretation and inadequate communication of instructions/training

• Lack of consistent application of instructions

• Cost Sharing (mandatory & voluntary committed)–Effort and space incurred on sponsored

activity, however funded by the University

Space Survey Timeline

• Target completion date: July 31, 2012

• Cost Accounting unit will provide additional training and assistance to anyone that needs it.

• Any questions or concerns: – Jaime Bunner 293-3539 or jaime.bunner@mail.wvu.edu– Annamarie Smerka 293-4009 or

annamarie.smerka@mail.wvu.edu– Chris Boland 293-8495 or chris.boland@mail.wvu.edu– spacesurvey@mail.wvu.edu