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Institutional Allocation Guidelines for CFI Infrastructure Operating Fund

Background

The Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) Infrastructure Operating Fund (IOF) is designed to offset the operating and maintenance costs and to ensure optimal use of CFI-funded infrastructure.  Vancouver Island University will be allocated funding based on 30% of the CFI amount approved at award finalization.  This allocation applies to all eligible projects approved after July 1, 2001.

Guiding Principles

CFI has given the responsibility of allocating the IOF funds to the institution itself, and requires each institution to develop guiding principles for the distribution of funds.  Vancouver Island University has determined that allocations are to be based on a case-by-case evaluation of the need and merit of each project rather than on the basis of allocating the exact amount to the project that generated it.  The following principles will guide the distribution of funds:

  • Top priority for the allocation of funds will be major infrastructure operating costs that provide a benefit to the greatest number of researchers.
  • Next priority is major infrastructure projects that would normally be covered by the department or the institution, but where the operating costs are substantially higher than would normally be expected.  In such cases, the faculty member or Director responsible can apply for those costs or additional costs to be covered.  Requests will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
  • A lesser priority for the use of funds will be infrastructure operating costs that would normally be covered by departments or the institution, or projects that entail smaller operating costs.
  • Any other requests will be evaluated on a case by case basis.

Planning

Planning will be undertaken by the IOF Allocation Plan Committee.  Membership on the Committee consists of the Director of Research Services and two appropriate Deans.  The aim of the Committee is to determine the appropriate allocation of available funds and prepare an Institutional Allocation Plan.  The Research & Scholarly Activity Office will be responsible for implementation of the Institutional Allocation Plan including submission of the annual allocation request to CFI, expenditure tracking and compliance monitoring, and financial reporting.

IOF Requests

Annually in the Fall, the Research & Scholarly Activity Office will prompt Deans of Faculties with eligible infrastructure to review anticipated operating and maintenance costs with appropriate faculty and determine if a request for funding will be made.  Applicants will be notified as soon as possible to enable alternate funding sources to be explored should IOF funding not be approved.

Approval Process

Annually in the Fall, the IOF Allocation Plan Committee will convene to review the Institutional Allocation Plan and current submissions and make recommendations to the Vice President Academic and Provost on infrastructure operating costs to be funded in the next fiscal year.  The Vice President Academic and Provost will grant final approval.

 

Updated: May 2012