Principal Investigator (PI) Responsibilities
The University of Hartford is legally and financially responsible and accountable to the funder for the performance of a sponsored activity and the proper use of funds. The University has entrusted the Office of Institutional Partnership & Sponsored Research, the Principal Investigators, and the Financial Accounting Department the fiduciary responsibility for externally funded projects. Therefore, all must work closely together in proposing, negotiating and conducting sponsored projects.

The following are the responsibilities of the Principal Investigator:

Pre-award
  • Consult with IPSR on possible funders and specific opportunities as soon as you learn of them.
  • Set a timeline with IPSR on submitting drafts and meetings to discuss proposal and budget.
  • Obtain project approval from Dean and Department Chair.
  • Submit proposal draft (including budget) to IPSR for review.
  • Obtain approval from either Institutional Review Board (IRB), if applicable.
  • Obtain approval from Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), if applicable.
  • Develop and submit final proposal draft to IPSR two weeks before submission deadline.
  • Check the Federal Debarment website to be sure we are not including excluded parties as consultants or subcontractors on proposed projects. (Applicable for Federal grants only.)
Post-Award Period
  • Submit official notification of grant award to IPSR.
  • Submit subcontract specifics to IPSR for subcontract drafting.
  • Submit request for budget revisions to IPSR for processing.
  • Submit requests for extensions (budget or report extensions) to IPSR for processing.
  • Monitor all expenses charged to the grant account - especially Facilities, Phone, Aramark, and Postage-- to ensure expenditure of all awarded funds in a timely fashion.
  • Monitor all subrecipient contract expenditures.
  • Monitor and document matching funds on projects requiring a match.
  • Submit interim and progress reports to IPSR and funder by their due date.
End of Grant Period
  • Submit final reports to IPSR and funder by their due date.
  • Monitor subrecipient reporting and any other subrecipient grant obligations.
  • Submit financial expenditure documentation to Accounting for review prior to submission to funder.
  • Verify accuracy of time allocated on Time and Effort Reports; submit to IPSR in timely fashion. (Applicable for Federal grants only.)
  • Ensure that the project stays within the scope and objectives of the original proposal.
  • Comply with all terms and conditions of the grant.
  • Follow all university policies (financial and academic) as well as the policies of the sponsoring agency.




For more information on Institutional Partnerships and Sponsored Research, contact Peter Lisi at 860.768.2446 or lisi@hartford.edu.