Office of Research and Ethics Services
recherche-research@ustpaul.ca
Telephone: 613-236-1393
1-800-637-6859
Quick Links

GENERAL RESEARCH FUND (GRF)

The General Research Fund (GRF) is a special trust account into which the unspent funds of expired or terminated grants (SSHRC, CIHR and NSERC) are transferred with the authorization of the granting agencies.

DESCRIPTION

Saint Paul University is required to keep a separate GRF account for each agency: namely, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). The financial administration of these two GRFs must also be kept separate. The funds must be administered in a centralized manner and the institution must manage the funds meticulously.

TRANSFER CONDITIONS

Transfers to the GRF are authorized by the agencies under the following conditions:

  • The amount to be transferred corresponds to the definition of a residual balance. A residual balance is an amount corresponding to 50% or less of the allocated grant. Any higher amount is deemed to be an unspent grant and a reimbursement is required;
  • The institution has completed the annual reconciliation of active awards by submitting the statements of account;
  • The institution has spent at least 50% of the opening balance of its GRF during the current year.

PROCEDURES AND POLICIES: MANAGING THE USE OF THE GRF

  • Saint Paul University uses GRF funds to grant assistance to start-up projects, for the production of edited academic works and for special research activities. Here is the list of funding opportunities.
  • In all cases, and subject to the availability of these funds, professors who wish to obtain funding must submit a complete application to the Office of Research and Ethics within the Saint Paul University research support programs.
  • The policies and requirements of the agencies stipulated in the Tri-Agency Financial Administration Guide apply at all times to the use of GRF funds.
  • Saint Paul University is responsible for ensuring that GRFs are used to cover eligible expenses related to the direct costs of research and that all expenses charged to the GRF are authorized by the person responsible within the institution.
  • Each year, Saint Paul University is required to submit a statement of account (F300) for each GRF (SSHRC, CIHR and NSERC) to the agencies.