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BUDGET GUIDELINES — ONCAT RESEARCH GRANTS

Budget Guidelines - ONCAT Research Grants

Purpose and Scope

  • ONCAT grants are intended to support projects with defined timelines and activities.
  • ONCAT grants are not intended to cover operating budgets for administrative departments and/or ongoing costs for permanent programs.  
  • ONCAT grants cannot be used to support projects that have received (or have applied for) any funding from the Credit Transfer Innovation Grant (CTIG), eCampusOntario and/or the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO). 

Personnel Costs

The following expenses are eligible:

  • salaries and benefits for research assistants, for time that is directly allocated to the project’s activities  
  • teaching release for Principal Investigators and/or Co-investigators, in recognition of time that is directly allocated to the project’s activities  
  • honoraria for external advisors (e.g., Indigenous Elder, cultural consultant)
  • fees for external contractors (e.g., translator, designer)  
  • Note: faculty members affiliated with any publicly assisted colleges, universities or Indigenous Institutes in Ontario cannot be engaged as external contractors. 

The following expenses are ineligible: 

  • salaries, honoraria or fees for faculty members affiliated with any publicly assisted colleges, universities or Indigenous Institutes in Ontario  
  • Exception: ONCAT will allow honoraria for Indigenous Elders or cultural consultants who are faculty members affiliated with any publicly assisted colleges, universities or Indigenous Institutes in Ontario.
  • salaries for senior administrative staff (e.g., director, registrar, vice-president)  
  • salaries for senior academic staff (e.g., chair, dean, director, vice-president)
  • salaries or fees for the instructional delivery of any for-credit courses
  • retirement, termination and severance costs 

Project Costs

The following expenses are eligible: 

  • professional meetings with representatives from multiple postsecondary institutions  
  • professional meetings with representatives from employers, community associations and other external stakeholders  
  • facility rentals  
  • computer hardware, audio-video equipment or tools with costs under $300 per item
  • rental fees for equipment
  • audio-video documentation of the project (e.g., photographer, videographer)
  • temporary licenses for software that is (1) directly related to the project’s activities, and (2) not normally available through your institution
  • promotional materials that are directly associated with the project’s activities  
  • reasonable incentives (e.g., gift cards) for participation in surveys, interviews and focus groups 

The following expenses are ineligible: 

  • capital expenditures (e.g., purchase of furniture, renovation of facilities)
  • computer hardware, audio-video equipment or tools with costs over $300 per item
  • onboarding, membership or licencing fees paid to an external service provider
  • onboarding, membership or licencing fees paid to professional associations
  • student awards, bursaries or scholarships 

Travel Costs

ONCAT recognizes that in-person meetings or consultations may be necessary to conduct project activities. To reduce travel costs and environmental impact, ONCAT encourages videoconferencing whenever possible.  

The following expenses are eligible:

  • air/rail tickets, ground transportation, car rental or kilometric allowance, accommodation and/or meals  

All travel expenses should adhere to the Government of Ontario’s Travel, Meal, and Hospitality Expenses Directive. 

Overhead and Administration

Budgets may include a line item to cover the following overhead and administration costs:  

  • copying and printing, telephones and internet, office supplies and stationary, and general support provided by the postsecondary institution that receives and administers ONCAT funding on behalf of the Principal Investigators and/or Co-investigators

Overhead and administration costs cannot exceed 10% of the total funding requested for the project.

Contact Us

If you have questions or comments, contact Inna Yeranosyan, Grants and Projects Specialist. 

 

ONCAT is funded by the Government of Ontario. All programs and details are subject to change without notice.