The following guidelines were developed by ASEE's Engineering Dean's Council, Data Collection Committee in cooperation with ASEE's Engineering Research Council, Data Standardization Committee. These guidelines are also in place in ASEE's Survey of Engineering and Engineering Technology Colleges and Research. Please feel free to contact Michael T. Gibbons with questions at 202-331-3535 or m.gibbons@asee.org.
Externally-Funded Engineering-Related Research Expenditures by Department or Research Center/Lab
Research Guidlines
Externally-funded Research Expenditures by Funding Source for the ASEE
Survey
Include all expenditures associated with grants and contracts
specifically budgeted for externally sponsored research and associated
programs and expenditures associated with all gifts auditably used for
research. Include expended funds provided by the following external
sources:
1. Federal Government
2. State Government
3. Foreign Governments
4. Industry
5. Non-Profit Organizations (e.g. foundations)
6. Individuals
7. Local Government
The expenditures reported should be only those funds provided by
organizations, agencies, and individuals external to the institution.
Cost sharing/matching funds should be included only if provided from
sources external to the institution.
Only State government funds that were obtained competitively or as
matching funds associated with other externally funded programs should
be included.
State funds that are part of the normal operating budget should not be
included regardless of purpose.
For all joint or contracted projects or sub-projects, only the portion
of the center research performed by faculty, staff, and students of the
affiliated engineering school should be credited to that school.
Expenditures for capital costs of research laboratory building
construction should not be included.
Expenditures for research laboratory renovations should not be included
unless the renovation funds expended came from grants and contracts
expressly intended for the direct support of engineering research.
Any portion of academic year and/or summer salary for any researcher
that is not derived from external research grants or contracts should
not be counted.
Expenditures: Report actual expenditures (as opposed to authorization
amounts) in U.S. dollars.
Time frame for expenditures: Report expenditures for your 2008 fiscal
year (the fiscal year that ended in 2008).
Numbers and rounding: Round figures to the nearest thousand dollars. Do
not report cents. For example, for $345,678.99, report $346,000.
Research centers listed as "WITHIN an engineering department" on the the
ASEE Research Centers page (screen 7) of the College of Engineering
Profile, will not have their expenditures added to the school's total
research expenditures. Such expenditures can be included in the
department total, while still being listed for the appropriate center.
This allows users to list the expenditures in two areas without
double-counting.
What is a research unit or research center?
ASEE has adopted the definition of a research unit developed by Dr. Robert S. Friedman and Dr. Renee C. Friedman at Pennsylvania State University. In a report on organized research units, they use the following criteria to define a research unit. A research unit should:
- Receive budgetary support from internal and/or external sources independent of department allocation (remember, only report external expenditures per directions listed above);
- Occupy temporary or permanently assigned space with access to university-operated physical facilities and support services;
- Be directed by an administrator drawn from faculty or equivalent ranks;
- Participate in the university's broad-gauged educational functions, but not be degree-granting;
- Be more than a facilitator of research (such as a computer center or nuclear reactor), a diagnostic testing and/or evaluation unit servicing internal or external clients, or an institutional research and/or co-ordinating office.
Research Center or Laboratory Classification
- Research center WITHIN an engineering department.
- Research center WITHIN the college of engineering.
- Research center WITHIN the university system.
- Research center OUTSIDE the university.