• The certification process for both the endowed division and contract colleges will be required only for individuals with salary charges to a sponsored account, federal appropriated account, project cost sharing account, organized research account, and/or department cost sharing account. All other personnel are excluded from this process.
• As a result of the qualifications mentioned in the previous bullet, individuals charged to non-organized research sponsored projects (e.g., ESA accounts) will be included. Primarily, this will impact the units in the contract colleges.
• The report contains YTD actual salaries, as well as next year's plan.
• Endowed next-year plan is the same as current-year actual.
• Contract college next-year plan is the FY09 university budget system data (CPBS).
• A separate page will be generated for each individual position.
• Individuals who work in more than one unit are only represented in their home unit. (This may require coordination with other units.)
• Faculty or staff members can sign their individual reports, or you may use a group certification form. If using the group certification form, you must obtain suitable verification that the work was actually performed and is allocable to the sponsored award. You must also have written documentation that this verification was performed.
• Summer salary is broken out separately.
• Contract college worksheets will no longer roll-up odd/even years to one account, but rather reflect all actual accounts.
• Units will generate worksheets via the Hyperion Brio Portal.  Worksheets are generated monthly.  We recommend you print these reports soon to allow time to identify any problems and process payroll adjustments as necessary.
• The certification process will incorporate all 12 months of the fiscal year.  This requires that all necessary payroll adjustments be processed by Monday, June 16, 2008.

Any changes or corrections to the current-year effort distribution should be made via the Account Distribution and Adjustment Form (ADAF).  ADAFs must be received by the Payroll Office at East Hill Plaza by Monday, June 16, 2008. 

The final Plan Confirmation worksheets will be available once payroll is closed for the fiscal year (an e-mail notification will be sent when the report is available). The final certified worksheets and/or original signed copy of the Annual Certification of Effort, Group Certification Form (if the unit approval process is used) must be returned to Cost Analysis, 341 Pine Tree Road, East Hill Plaza by Thursday, July 31, 2008.

Changes to the FY09 fiscal year plan need only be highlighted on the plan confirmation report.  However, we recommend that changes to the labor distribution system be made at the same time.

 Note: Adjustments to certified payroll ("breaks in certification") are problematic and are often the target for audit disallowance.  In general, these adjustments will not be made.  An exception to this is the transfer of a true deficit (overdraft) from a sponsored account to a non-sponsored account.  These transfers represent a form of cost sharing.  That is, technically, they are not considered a "break in certification."  In these and other acceptable cases, a complete explanation for the transfer must be reflected on the ADAF.  A copy of the ADAF and a recertified Plan Confirmation worksheet for the time period affected must be sent to the Cost Analysis area in the Division of Financial Affairs.

We are continually seeking ways to enhance our processes to minimize the administrative requirements of academic units while, at the same time, fulfilling our obligation to meet federal, state, and other requirements.  In this spirit, your feedback concerning the Plan Confirmation worksheet process, as well as any recommendations for future enhancements, are encouraged. Please direct suggestions, questions, and concerns regarding the current year's procedures to Sarah Fitzgerald at 5-3351, or Will Tarbert at 5-5657.  Also, you may send an e-mail to uco-cost@cornell.edu .

 back to top