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PSI - FAQs

What is allowed to be purchased with PSI funds?
A: Project expenses such as travel, project supplies, publishing fees, course release for research, student worker wages, or for a graduate research assistant. No food or beverage purchases are allowed. Purchased items must follow TAMUC policies and procedures and are considered departmental property.

Q: What if there is more than one PI in the Maestro?
A: If there is more than one PI listed in Maestro, the PSI funds still be deposited into an account for the PI listed on the General Information tab.  

Q: I was awarded funds from an external sponsor, but did not have approvals via Maestro. Can I receive funds from the PSI program?
A: No. All external funding is required to be submitted through Sponsored Programs. To be eligible for the PSI program funds, all proposals must adhere to the Proposal Submission Policy and receive internal approvals via Maestro before submission and not when the PI receives notice of funding.

Q: I have subawards on my proposal. Do I receive PSI funds based on the amount from the complete proposal or for TAMUC's share of the budget?
A: The PI will only be funded on the portion that is TAMUC's amount.

Q: I am an advisor on a student-led externally sponsored grant. Who receives the PSI funds?
A: PSI funds will be under the name of the advisor. The faculty advisor will be able to decide how the funds are to be used.

Q: Are Co-PIs on externally submitted proposals eligible for the PSI program? 
A: No. Due to accounting issues, only the PI will receive the funds. However, they may allow the Co-PI(s) to purchase items and allocate the expenses to their IDC account.  That will be up to the PI to share the account number and the amount the Co-PI is allowed to spend.

Q: How am I to use the PSI funds?
A: PSI funds will be put into individual IDC accounts. The accounts will be set up to hold incentive funds for the PI. If you already have an IDC account, the funds will just be added to the existing account. Sponsored Programs do NOT need to approve any expenditures. You, your departmental administrative assistant, or budget coordinator may make purchases or travel arrangements as normal by using a ProCard, Concur, or Mane Market and follow those procedures for purchases.

Q: What is the expiration date for my PSI funds? 

A: PSI accounts will not expire. But, your PSI account needs to have yearly expenditures.  If no or minimal expenditures are made, Sponsored Programs will have all the funds in the account returned to the Sponsored Programs account.  If you plan to make a large purchase with accumulated funds, you must submit a written and approved request explaining your spending plan. Please email this to the VPR.

Q: How long will it take for PSI funding to be transferred to my new account? 
A: Sponsored Programs will email all recipients every month for the previous month’s submitted proposals to any PIs who are eligible.

Q: Will OSP send updated statements of my PSI account?
A: No. You are responsible for contacting your departmental personnel to verify your expenditures and the balance of your account.

Q: If I transfer to a different department within TAMUC, will the funds transfer too?
A: Yes. Funds will stay in the individual’s PSI/IDC account despite movement within TAMUC.

Q: If I retire or leave the TAMUC, what happens to my PSI funds?
A: If a PI will continue performing research as an emeritus faculty member at TAMUC, the PSI/IDC funds will stay in the account for the faculty to use. When a researcher leaves TAMUC and there is already a Co-PI on the project, Sponsored Programs can transfer the funds to the new PI on the project. If there are no other Co-PIs, Sponsored Programs will close the account and retrieve the funds.

Q: Can my PSI/IDC account be used to pay for a TAMUC course's tuition or fees?
A: No. That is not allowed.

Please contact a PSI Program Administrator (PA) with any other questions.

Ms. Kaylee Kinnaird, CRA
Senior Proposal Administrator II
NHS 337
903-886-5162
Kaylee.Kinnaird@tamuc.edu

Ms. Donna Russell
Proposal Administrator I
NHS 338
903-886-5168
Donna.Russell@tamuc.edu