Graduate College Policy
Administering NIH Training and Fellowship Grants
Tuition and Fee Charges
Twice a year (~December and June) tuition and fee charges will be assessed to NIH grants in accordance with sponsor regulations. The Grants and Contracts Office ensures that assessments for each student are charged to the appropriate grant.
Stipend Supplementation and Compensation
NIH policy requires all fellows and trainees to pursue their research training on a full time basis, normally defined as 40 hours per week. The University “is allowed to provide funds to an individual in addition to the stipends paid by NIH. Such additional amounts either may be in form of augmented stipends (supplementation) or in the form of compensation, such as salary or tuition remission for services such as teaching or serving as a laboratory assistant…Under no circumstances, may the conditions of stipend supplementation or the services provided for compensation interfere with, detract from, or prolong” the fellow’s or trainee’s training program.
Concurrent Appointment for Compensation of Services
NIH recognizes that fellows may seek part-time employment “incidental to their training program to offset further their expenses”, but expects that compensation will be for “limited part-time employment apart from the normal training activities”. Given the NIH guidelines, University policy will allow for concurrent research assistantship appointments to be provided each semester of the NIH fellowship or traineeship period if the following criteria are met:
- The research assistantship appointment FTE does not exceed 15%.
- Prior approval by the Graduate College.
- Confirmation by sponsor and student that compensation for the research assistantship is not paid from a research grant that supports the same research that is part of the trainee’s planned training experience as approved in the NIH application.
- Confirmation by sponsor that the assistantship obligations will not detract from or prolong the approved training program.
- Tuition and fees will continue to be charged to the grant in accordance with the NIH formula.
The fellow may receive a one-semester concurrent teaching assistantship appointment if the following criteria are met:
- Teaching experience is required by the fellows or trainees curriculum.
- The teaching assistantship does not exceed 25%.
- Prior approval of the Graduate College.
Stipend Supplementation
NIH fellows and trainees may receive supplemental appointments (processed as fellowships) if the stipend is paid from non-federal funds and the supplemental appointment requires no additional obligation from the fellow. The supplemental fellowship appointment would be processed through the Graduate College Fellowship Office.
Questions
General questions about concurrent appointments for fellows or trainees may be addressed to the Graduate College Fellowship Office (GradFellowships@illinois.edu, 333-0036).
Questions regarding NIH grant proposals should be addressed to the Office of Sponsored Programs and Research Administration (GCOAward@uillinois.edu, 333-2187).
Questions regarding awarded NIH grants should be addressed to the Office of Grants and Contracts Post Award (gcopostuiuc@uillinois.edu, 333-2186).
Revised January 2009