Sponsored Research Cost Transfers

1. Policy Issued: 11/4/2025 Last Revised:  NewLast Reviewed: New  ​​Applies to:​ Faculty (including part-time and visiting faculty), postdoctoral scholars, staff and students (including graduate/undergraduate student workers and graduate assistants) employed by University of Southern California and its subsidiaries including Keck Medicine of USC (“USC employees”).  This policy continues to apply to individuals on sabbatical, other leaves…

Effort Reporting

1. Policy Issued: 11/4/2025 Last Revised: NewLast Reviewed: New  ​​Applies to:​ Faculty (including part-time and visiting faculty), postdoctoral scholars, staff and students (including graduate/undergraduate student workers and graduate assistants) employed by University of Southern California and its subsidiaries including Keck Medicine of USC (“USC employees”).  This policy continues to apply to individuals on sabbatical, other leaves…

Expenditures Supplemental Policy

Policy Purpose The purpose is to provide additional support to the university’s financial sustainability efforts, while still upholding our core academic mission. University schools and departments may adopt more restrictive policies, and such restrictions must be monitored through school and department level controls. Please download policy to access additional details. To access the institutional policies…

Indirect Cost Rate

When conducting sponsored projects, USC is required to apply the appropriate Facilities and Administrative (“F&A”) rate (also referred to as the “Indirect Cost Rate”) to the appropriate direct cost base for each project.

Bank Accounts

No individual, school, department, institute, center, subunit, group or organization associated with or affiliated with the university (including associated alumni or student organization) is authorized to open a commercial or retail bank account in or using the university’s name, identification or tax information.

Recharge Centers

USC schools, academic departments and other university divisions (units) may establish a recharge center (RC) to provide goods and/or services to university activities, programs and organizations.

School and Department Commitments

Many schools make commitments with their chairs or department/division directors which are incorporated in the operating budget.

Borrowing and Lending Funds by Departments, School, Units or Subsidiaries

This policy outlines the rules required for the borrowing or lending of funds by any school or department within the university.

Cost-Sharing

The sponsor’s award document normally includes the form and the amount of the cost-sharing commitment or it may reference the proposal submitted to the funding agency.