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Business Offices

Many special business and accounting problems may be associated with sponsored projects, in particular those arising from the contractual requirements and administrative regulations of sponsors.

Cheryl L. Soper, Controller and Director of Financial Operations (6020 Wolverine Tower, 764-7214) has overall responsibility for business operations related to sponsored projects. Project Directors should discuss questions regarding project accounts with the appropriate Coordinator in this Office, as detailed below.

Financial Operations
Responsibility for establishing and maintaining accounts, distributing monthly financial statements, and providing guidance to ensure compliance with sponsor and University regulations regarding grants and contracts is assigned to Financial Operations Sponsored Programs, under the direction of Robert L. Barbret (3089 Wolverine Tower, 764-9593). The accounts for all projects directly sponsored by a federal agency and projects for which the prime source of support is federal funds (for example, industry-sponsored projects which are supported by federal funds) are maintained by Federal Fund Accounting. All other accounts, including those with state and local government, industry, trade and professional associations, nonprofit organizations, and private foundations, are maintained by Expendable Restricted Funds.

COORDINATORS provide assistance to project directors in business matters pertaining to their project, interpret and monitor grant and contract regulations, answer questions concerning the financial status of projects, coordinate submission of fiscal reports, and review justification for costs prior to federal audits. An Excel document on the FinOps Sponsored Programs site lists the coordiantors by Department ID.

Other Relevant Business Offices

PURCHASING provides price and delivery information and can handle orders for all materials, supplies, and services needed by projects.

THE PROPERTY CONTROL OFFICE, under the direction of Mark D. Comstock, maintains government property records and submits inventory reports for all sponsored research accounts. Questions concerning the use, disposition, or relocation of government property should be referred to Frederick J. Stauch, 2055 Wolverine Tower, 764-6251. Questions concerning University property should be referred to Mark Comstock, 2057 Wolverine Tower, 764-6251.

The TRAVEL OFFICE audits and processes Travel Expense Reports. Questions regarding travel policies and procedures or concerning specific travel expense reports should be directed to 5091 Wolverine Tower, 764-6253.

THE TIMEKEEPING OFFICE processes time reports and faculty effort reports primarily on research accounts.