After an award is made, changes to the project or budget may be necessary. Some changes require sponsor approval, while others can be approved internally by University officials. Review the award document and sponsor policies before initiating a request. Contact your Sponsored Programs Administration (SPA) team with questions.
Change in Scope
Sometimes, as a project progresses, the work outlined in the original award may need to be adjusted. Any change to the scope of work is significant and always requires approval from the sponsor.
Before submitting a request, the Principal Investigator (PI) should carefully review the award document and sponsor policies to ensure that the proposed change is handled correctly.
- The PI initiates the request, using the sponsor’s required method—form, memo, email, or online system.
- SPA reviews the request and, when necessary, forwards it to the sponsor for approval.
- Once approved, SPA updates Kuali Research and notifies Sponsored Projects Accounting and Compliance (SPAC) so the project record reflects the approved scope.
This approach ensures the project stays compliant with both University and sponsor requirements while accurately reflecting the approved work.
Change in Budget
The proposal budget is based on anticipated and estimated costs. Sometimes, after an award is made, it becomes necessary to adjust the budget to reflect changing project needs. Some awards allow flexibility in reallocating funds from one budget category to another, and some must be expended as originally budgeted unless sponsor approval is obtained.