Today@Dal

To: Dalhousie Research Community
From: Dalhousie Research Services
Re: Overhead on Research Funds Policy

Overhead costs are those indirect expenditures incurred by the University in the conduct of research which are not readily identifiable as specific expenses to a project. They are real costs to the University which include, but are not limited to, such items as building occupancy and operating costs; facilities maintenance and upgrade; management and administration of research; support for regulatory requirements and research compliance; support for intellectual property and technology transfer activities; library and electronic resources; communications and IT support; faculty and departmental service to support research; and research promotion and development activities. These costs are, therefore, defined as indirect and are recovered through an overhead charge incorporated in the project funding and budget.

Research overhead revenue is distributed between the Institution and the Faculty in which the research is carried out. A recent review of the policy has resulted in a new model for the distribution of overhead funds to the faculties, which will be phased in over a period of six years so that, ultimately, 35% of all overhead revenue will be allocated to the Institution and 65% will be distributed to the Faculty. Distribution of the revenues within each Faculty is done according to policies adopted by each Faculty.

A copy of the policy can be found on the DRS website at: Research Services – Guidelines and Policies.

If you require further information, please contact Jody Rice Gallagher, Legal Advisor, at jody.rice@dal.ca