By offering modest financial incentives to all faculty and staff in recognition of their research accomplishments, our aim is to cultivate an environment that promotes research excellence and sustained growth. This incentive program aligns with the Lead On Strategic Plan (P1S1T4, P1S3T5, P5S1T1, P5S5T8) by encouraging cutting-edge discoveries and patents, as well as high impact publications, performances, and art, all of which contribute to the institution's reputation and standing in the global academic community. Ultimately, monetary incentives can serve as one of many strategic tools to attract and retain top-tier talent, thereby positioning the institution at the forefront of academic excellence and industry collaboration.
We are implementing two new faculty research and creative activity-based cash incentive pilot programs:
If an OU faculty or staff member receives an external sponsored research or creative activity grant award (or sub-award) through the Office of Research Services greater than $3 million, the individual will be recognized with a cash incentive of 0.5% of the value of the grant award (or sub-award). The total grant award (or sub-award) amount eligible for the cash incentive will be capped at $25 million.
If an OU faculty or staff member receives an external sponsored research or creative activity grant award (or sub-award) through the Office of Research Services greater than $100,000, the individual will be recognized with a cash incentive of 0.5% of the value of the grant award (or sub-award). The total grant award (or sub-award) amount eligible for the cash incentive will be capped at $25 million.
*STEM disciplines are defined by the National Science Foundation here: https://btaa.org/docs/default-source/diversity/nsf-approved-fields-of- studycac2.pdf?sfvrsn=642824bc_2
**For the purpose of this program, non-STEM faculty are defined as those working in a field not listed in the National Science Foundation’s list of STEM disciplines.
Faculty or staff receiving an award that is listed on the NRC highly prestigious award list (https://www.aau.edu/key-issues/national-research- council-list-highly-prestigious-awards) are eligible for a $3,000 one-time salary supplement in the year that the award is received. Newly elected members to the National Academies of Science, Engineering, or Medicine are eligible for a $5,000 one-time salary supplement in the year of election. All NRC Highly Prestigious awards received in FY24 are eligible in this cycle. Awardees will be recognized during the OVPRP annual research excellence awards ceremony. Future awards will depend on the availability of funds.
The intention behind the program is to incentivize team-based, large, significant, national-scale, competitive research grants coming to OU. For the non-STEM disciplines, we are incentivizing high-impact large awards from the NEH or philanthropies in excess of $100,000.
$25M is an arbitrary amount designed to ensure there are enough resources in the program to pay out the intended cash incentives.
The cash incentive would be $125,000 or 0.5% of the $25M ceiling.
The program applies to both competitive and non-competitive research grants and contracts.
The decision will made based on the primary topic of the grant.
The decision will be made based on the primary topic of the grant.
If the agency’s official award start date is in FY24 (July 1, 2023- June 30, 2024), you are eligible for the cash incentive award.
Submit your information via the “submission button” in the program announcement on the OVPRP webpage.
No, only new grant awards that started in FY24 (July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024) are eligible to apply.
Only individuals that are named on the grant award as PI, co-PI, or senior personnel (those who will work on the project) are eligible for the cash award.
Twice a year, in Dec. and May. Applications can be submitted at any time but the OVPRP will review them roughly twice a year and payouts will likely occur in January and June each year for which funds are available.
