This page will provide resources and links for Faculty and Staff. If you would like to see something included on this page, please send an email to cs-office@virginia.edu.

  • Bylaws

    Department of CS Bylaws

    The Bylaws for the Department of Computer Science at UVA were updated May 9, 2022. This update reflects changes to address new policies on Academic General Faculty (AGF), specifically SEAS Policy 2017.4 relating to AGF, as well as increased use of secondary and courtesy appointments (see SEAS policy 2017.6, Promotion and Tenure Policy for Tenured and Tenure Track Faculty), and to clarify voting prerogatives for faculty with secondary appointments. 

    Bylaws
  • Finance Strategic Transformation (FST)
  • HR Onboarding & Offboarding

    UVA Human Resources Onboarding and Offboarding page includes helpful resources for those new to UVA or leaving. 

    ITS checklist page for those leaving UVA.

  • UVA System Links & Resources and CS Computing Support
  • IRB Information

    Any research requiring human subjects, known or unknown, in person or through online surveys, must be reviewed by the IRB (see link below).

    Payment arrangements, including gift cards, Mturk or other service should be made through the CS Office (cs-office@virginia.edu).

    Personal funds should never be used for human subject payments.  We will not be able to reimburse for personal purchases or online payments. 

    University policy does not allow any reimbursement by UVA employee of these purchase. Please contact our Reimbursement Group (cs-office@virginia.edu) for assistance with this. Also, noncompliance with IRB protocols could jeopardize the university’s research funding.

    https://research.virginia.edu/irb-sbs

    As part of the Human Research Protection Program (HRPP) at the University of Virginia, the Institutional Review Board for the Social and Behavioral Sciences (IRB-SBS) is the IRB responsible for reviewing all non-medical behavioral human research (studies which are considered medically non-invasive) for compliance with federally-mandated research guidelines. Review of human subjects research is required for funded and non-funded research and for research conducted by faculty, students, and all those under the purview of the University of Virginia.

    https://research.virginia.edu/irb-sbs/paying-participants

    Any incentive given to a participant to encourage participation is considered a payment. This can include (but is not limited to): checks, cash, gift cards, event tickets, food items, computers, materials used in the study that are not returned to the researcher, etc.

    Paying Research Participants (Human Subjects)

    All payments for research participants must adhere to the requirements of the Institutional Review Board (IRB)

    Cash Payments

    Cash payments must be made with a Payment Voucher through the Integrated System for employees and non-employees.  

    Gift Card Payments

    Gift Cards for research participation can either be purchased through the UVA Marketplace or with a T&E Card. University employees are not allowed to purchase gift cards with personal funds and seek reimbursement.

    For payments by gift card, the department must maintain a record for each payment - name, address, and SSN of each participant - as well as the name and date of the study. It is the department's responsibility to complete 1099 reporting annually.

    ExpenseUVA must be used for expensing the T&E transactions for the purchase of gift cards given to research participants.

    If you have any questions about this, then please contact us BEFORE purchasing gift cards or sending out any surveys, etc.: cs-office@virginia.edu

  • Participant Support Costs

    What is Participant Support? 

    Participant support is funding provided to enable and encourage individuals to attend conferences or training programs without undo financial burden. REU funding is given to the University as Participant Support Costs. 

     

    Participant support costs 

    • Participant support costs means direct costs for items such as stipends or subsistence allowances, travel allowances, and registration fees paid to or on behalf of participants or trainees (but not employees) in connection with conferences, or training projects. 

    • Participant support costs (PSC) are excluded from the Modified Total Direct Cost (MTDC) base 

     

    Who is a participant? 

    • A participant is defined as a non-employee who is the recipient, not the provider, of a service or training associated with a workshop, conference, seminar, symposium, or other short-term instructional or information sharing activity. 

    • Participants are not required to provide any deliverable, other than meeting the program requirements (e.g. attendance, testing, etc.). 

     

    A participant may be: 

    • Students 

    • Scholars 

    • Scientists 

    • Teachers 

    • Private sector representatives 

     

    A participant cannot be: 

    • An employee of the grantee institution 

    • Advisory board members 

    • Interns who have paid appointments 

    • Anyone who has a deliverable or is primarily providing a service to the project. 

     

    Participant Support Cost Categories 

    • Stipend 

    • Travel 

    • Subsistence 

    • Fees 

    • Other 

     

    Stipend 

    A set amount of money to be paid directly to the participant. Conditions for receiving a stipend should be in writing and program completion attested to by the project PI. Granting agencies may have specific guidelines for participant stipends. 

     

    Travel 

    Travel includes the costs of transportation and associated costs and must follow sponsor guidelines (e.g., U.S. flag carrier, coach class, most direct route) as well as university policies and guidelines. The sole purpose of the trip must be to participate in the project activity. If a training activity involves additional field trips, the costs of transportation of participants may be allowable. 

     

    Subsistence Allowance 

    The cost of housing and meal expenses necessary for the individual to participate in the project are generally allowed, provided these costs are reasonable and limited to the days of attendance. Although participants who live in the local area are not entitled to subsistence payments or per diem, they may participate in meals and refreshments provided at the meeting or conference. 

     

    • Note: While employees are not normally considered participants, they may receive conference meals under this provision. 

     
    Fees and Other 

    • Fees: Costs directly associated with attending conferences, symposia, or training projects. Such costs include registration, conference and similar fees. 

    • Other: Certain other costs may also be allowable if consistent with university policy and practice, and specified in the proposal approved by sponsor upon review. Example: training materials or laboratory supplies when approved by the sponsor.  

     

    Participant Support Costs do not include: 

    • Guest speaker or lecturer fees. 

    • Conference support costs such as facility and audio/visual equipment rental. 

    • Service or independent contractor agreements. 

    • Incentives (prizes), memorabilia or gifts. 

    • Employee compensation and expenses (Note: Exception for employee meals; they are allowable where provided to all attendees of a sponsored conference.) 

     

    Managing Participant Support Costs 

    • Federal agencies vary in their requirements for management of PSCs 

    • Because participants do not provide services to a project it is not necessarily clear how they benefit the award. Therefore PSCs need to be part of the funding opportunity or agency rules and specifically included in the proposal. 

    • Conditions or constraints for rebudgeting awarded participant support funds vary and are specific to the awarding agency. 

      • Any rebudgeting which changes the scope of the award must have agency approval, even if rebudgeting authority has been assigned to the grantee. 

      • The addition of a participant program, where not previously awarded, is generally considered a change in scope requiring an agency’s prior approval 

    • Use of a separate account or sub-account is required when PSCs have been explicitly awarded and the agency requires approval for rebudgeting. 

      • Expenses beyond the budgeted amount should be in the already established participant support account/sub-account 

      • A separate account/sub-account is not required where costs are allowed by agency but not explicitly awarded 

     

    Participant Support Budget and NSF 

    NSF, unlike most other agencies, views training of participants as a significant component of their mission. For all other agencies, participant support needs to be specified in a funding solicitation and accepted in the proposal. 

     
    Because NSF requires tracking of both participant budget and costs, the use of separate accounts or subaccounts is necessary. 

    • Budget awarded for participant support cannot be transferred to other categories of expense unless approved in writing by the Program Officer. 

      • Budget can be moved into participant support costs 

      • Rebudgeting between the defined participant support cost categories is permitted 

    • PSCs not defined in 2 CFR 200.75 are not allowable without prior approval. 

    • Each meal associated with a conference award must be specifically listed in the proposal, and only beverages (i.e. not food) for session breaks are allowed. 

     

    Participant Support Under NSF 

    Participant support funding under NSF includes: 

    • Funding as an integral component of a new grant. 

    • NSF Research Traineeship Program (follow-on to Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship [IGERT]) 

      • Foreign students may participate in all IGERT activities, but they may not receive NSF IGERT funding. 

    • Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Site awards 

      • Participants in training programs must be US citizens or permanent residents. 

    • Supplemental funding on an existing award: 

      • Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) 

      • Research Experience for Teacher (RET) 

      • Lab Experience for Faculty (LEF) 

     
    NSF Research Experience for Undergraduate (REU) 

    • REU programs, whether site awards or supplements, provide high-quality mentoring opportunities for undergraduate students. Principal Investigators (PI) give serious attention not only to developing the student’s research skills but also to involving them in the culture of research, in the discipline, and in connecting their research experience with their overall course of study. 

    • REU participants are trainees and should not be considered (or appointed as) student employees in a PI’s lab. 

    • Participants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. 

    • Support for REU site and summer project students should allow the student to participate without undo financial burden. 

    • Stipend for summer project students is expected to be comparable to those of REU site participants, approximately $500 per student per week. Other student costs include housing, meals, travel, and laboratory use fees, usually vary depending on location. Amounts for academic-year projects should be comparable on a pro rata basis. 

    • Total costs for a summer are generally not expected to exceed $1,200 per student per week. However, projects that involve international activities, field work in remote locations, or other exceptional circumstances may exceed this limit. 

     
    Results from any REU supplement activities must be included in the annual project report. This is part of the “documentation” of the expenditures. 

     

    NSF Pre-Uniform Guidance (UG) Awards 

    • Prior to the UG, different treatment was applied to NSF REU and Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT) awards. 

    • The solicitation and award should be reviewed to ensure appropriate treatment. 

      • NSF 07-569 and 09-598 allow 25% administrative allowance against the stipend portion of the award. 

      • NSF 12-569 allows full Facilities and Administrative Costs (F&A) on the non-stipend participant costs. 

      • IGERT awards allow F&A of 8% on all costs excluding cost of education and capital equipment. 

     

    Substantiation of Participant Support Costs 

    • Stipend 

      • Written agreement prior to program stating the stipend amount 

      • Stipend rates must be consistently applied across the program and pro-rated where appropriate 

    • Subsistence 

      • Payments should be documented in the same manner as stipends 

      • Reimbursements require the submission of receipts or a previously agreed-upon per diem 

    • Program completion 

      • Documentation is required indicating successful program completion 

      • Classes or workshops require records indicating program attendance 

     

    NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide 

  • REU Supplement Overview

    Dear Colleague Letter: Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) and Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) Supplemental Funding in Computer and Information Science and Engineering  

    10.31.19 

    NSF REU Supplements 

    Investigators with an active research award may request supplemental funding to involve an undergraduate in an existing project under the Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program.  Because this program is funded as “Participant Support Costs”, it is often recommended by NSF program managers as a cost effective way to support students.  However, not all student support is eligible for funding under this program. 

    • The REU student supported must be a US Citizen, national, or Permanent Resident. 

    • The student must be an undergraduate 

    • The student cannot also be a UVA Employee 

     

    Full Instructions specific to REU site and supplement proposals can be found in the REU solicitation NSF 13-542 

     

    How to Apply for an REU supplement to an existing award 

    • First, contact the NSF Program officer for the award, and confirm that they will support the request if submitted.  It is not advisable to submit any supplemental funding request to the NSF without prior discussion. 

    • In Fastlane, prepare a Supplemental Funding request (this function is located under “Award & Reporting Functions”), which will include the following documents to upload:  

      • “Summary of Proposed Work”: this document should include just the statement that “This is a request for an REU Supplement” 

      • “Justification for Supplement”: up to 3 pages, including the following information:  

        1. the nature of each prospective student's involvement in the research project; 

        2. the experience of the PI (or other prospective research mentors) in involving undergraduates in research, including any previous REU Supplement support and the outcomes from that support; 

        3. the nature of the mentoring that the student(s) will receive; and 

        4. the process and criteria for selecting the student(s). 

        5. Optional. If the student has been pre-selected then the grounds for selection and a brief biographical sketch of the student should be included.  

          • the biographical sketch may be attached as an “Other Supplementary Document”, and does not count towards the 3 page limit. 

      • Budgets should be entered under “Participant Support costs” (section F of the budget), and no overhead can be applied. 

      • Summer stipends are typically $500 per week, academic year stipends should be comparable on a pro-rated basis for the time commitment anticipated. 

      • Additional costs (such as housing, travel, lab fees, etc.) may also be included if needed, also under “participant support”.  

      • Include a budget justification with a detailed breakdown of all costs requested. 

     

    NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide

  • REU Stipend & How to Enroll Students

    Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) 

    Sites and Supplements 

    NSF Program Solicitation NSF 19-582 

     

    The Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program supports active research participation by undergraduate students in any of the areas of research funded by the National Science Foundation. REU projects involve students in meaningful ways in ongoing research programs or in research projects specifically designed for the REU program. 

    Undergraduate student participants in either REU Sites or REU Supplements must be U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or permanent residents of the United States. 

    The REU experience is a research training experience paid via a stipend (NSF recommends  a minimum of $500 per student per week for summer, but see the prorated hourly breakdown below), not employment (work) paid with a salary or wage. This is just a guideline and you are welcome to adjust the stipend as needed. The student's training should consist of closely mentored independent research. 

     

    $500 / 40 hrs per week 

    $375 / 30 hrs per week 

    $250 / 20 hrs per week 

    $125 / 10 hrs per week 

     

    To set up your student's stipend, please fill out the form below. 

    REU Stipend Form 

     

     

  • Travel Planning & Reimbursements

    Planning

    Our office staff (cs-office@virginia.edu) can assist you in setting up your travel plans. UVA also has an online booking system (TravelUVA), where you can login and set up a profile. A travel agent will assist you in setting up flights, hotels, etc. 

     

    Reimbursements

    For UVA Employee (domestic)

     

    For NON UVA Employee

    Traveler must register as a vendor (except students) by completing a vendor registration form as a vendor/individual. When the form asks if you received this request from an employee/department, then enter "Computer Science":
    https://www.procurement.virginia.edu/pagevendorregistrationformlanding.

    If you are a non-U.S. citizen, you will need to provide additional documentation (usually a copy of your photo passport page and copy of your visa, but you can find more information here). These documents can be scanned and emailed to us or you can mail us copies if you prefer. You can find more information about UVA's policy on payments to Foreign Nationals here.

    Reimbursing non-employees:
    http://www.procurement.virginia.edu/pageTravelNonEmployee

    • Download latest travel workbook from the Procurement Travel Forms page: http://www.procurement.virginia.edu/pagetravelformlist
    • Same as above EXCEPT:
      • Enter ‘NO’ for Traveler status
      • Departure date (date arrived in Charlottesville)
      • Return date (date left Charlottesville)
      • NO per diem for visitors - have to use actual meal receipts

     

    Paper copies of receipts and supporting documentation for non-employee reimbursements are no longer required to be physically sent to the Travel and Expense Team within Procurement and Supplier Diversity Services.  Instead, attach all receipts and supporting documentation to the Paper Clip in the Integrated System (a “how-to” is attached to this email) when submitting payment vouchers.  As always, payment vouchers submitted without proper documentation will be returned to you for correction.

    Questions?  Please contact us at cs-office@virginia.edu if you have any questions

  • Faculty Policies

    This Engineering School page lists general policies and procedures as well as annual performance reviews, research and funding, promotion and tenure, etc. 

     

    Engineering School faculty policies page