A non-sponsored project is any project that is not grant-funded and is used as a mechanism to isolate and track transactions for a specific purpose, often across multiple fiscal years.

Non-Sponsored Projects vs Sponsored Projects

Non-sponsored projects can be used for any non-sponsored fund type. Budget controls exist on the fund level, with the only added project budget control ensuring a budget line exists within the PC_CHILD ledger of Commitment Control. These projects are set up, budgeted, updated, maintained, and closed by the department with assistance from Financial Reporting & Accounting Services. Non-sponsored projects have a Project Costing Business Unit (PC BU) of PC001, an Activity Type that is driven by the Project Type, and use various Analysis types (AN Types) within the chartstrings for transactions.

Sponsored projects involve restricted funds and cost-share related to grants. They have strict project budget controls in addition to fund-level controls and are set up, budgeted, updated, maintained, and closed by Sponsored Project Administration. Sponsored projects have a Project Costing Business Unit (PC BU) of GCA01, an Activity Type of SPNS, and use various Analysis types (AN Types) within the chartstrings for transactions.

Non-Sponsored Project Types

UVM has created several project types and associated project activities to meet departments’ needs. The Project Type is not part of the project chartstring; rather, it is a high-level description of the purpose of the project within Project Costing. The Project Type limits the Project Activity that can be selected, which is part of the chartstring. There are four major categories of Project Types:

General Project Types

Project TypeShort DescriptionUses
BILLNBilling ExternalTo collect costs incurred by a UVM department in service to an external customer
FCLTYFaculty Discretionary - Non-CapWhen a faculty member has been allocated funding that can be spent at their discretion
INAWDInternal AwardTo allocate funding and track spending of awards from UVM funds based on internal processes, procedures and criteria. Each project ID is associated with a student, faculty or staff member in the project set-up.
INTCHInternal Charges- Non-CapTo collect costs incurred by a UVM department in service to another UVM department. This is helpful in specific situations where completing many one-line Internal Charge Journal Entries would become confusing and inefficient.
NOCAPOther Non-CapitalTo track projects that may include renovations or construction but do not meet the UVM-created capitalization thresholds and, therefore, will not be capitalized.
STARTFaculty Start-upWhen faculty member has been allocated funding, often as a component of their employment agreement, that can be spent at their discretion. Each project ID is associated with a faculty member in the project set-up.
UVMPRUVM General Financial Non-CapTo track projects that are non-capital, non-construction and non-renovation and do not fit any other Project Type description.

Student-Related Project Types

Project TypeShort DescriptionUses
GRSCHGraduate Research Project When a graduate student has been allocated funding for their research. Each project ID is associated with a graduate student in the project set-up.
URSCHUndergraduate Research ProjectWhen an undergraduate student has been allocated funding for their research.  Each project ID is associated with an undergraduate student in the project set-up.

Department-Specific Project Types

Project TypeShort DescriptionUses
AGNONAG-Non-matchedExtension Services-specific project needs
ARCHLNon-federal Archaeology ProjectConsulting Archaeology Program-specific project needs
CLINTR-UVMMCClinical Trials - Non-CapLarner College of Medicine clinical trials with the University of Vermont Medical Center 
CNTDContinuing Ed - Non-CapContinuing & Distance Education staff to connect CDE offerings for various operating units, departments, programs, semesters, etc.

Capital & Department-Specific Capital Project Types

Appropriate transactions processed to these projects are analyzed by Cost Accounting Services to create or update assets within Asset Management. Details on capitalization and capital project (PDF) can be found on the Fixed Asset Accounting website. Projects that merely maintain the current level of service – such as routine maintenance and repair – are not considered capital. There are specific Project Types and Activities to account for such projects.
Project TypeShort DescriptionUses
CAPTLCapital ProjectsTrack costs related to projects that extend the useful life of an asset or increases the quantity or quality of services provided by the asset
DFMNTDeferred Maintenance- CapitalTrack capitalizable costs related to deferrred maintenance projects by Administrative & Facilities Services
DFMOMDeferred Maintenance - O & MTrack non-capital, ongoing operations & maintenance costs related to deferred maintenance projects by Administrative & Facilities Services. These costs do not extend the useful life or service capacity of the asset.
ENERGPhysical Plant Energy - CapitalFor Physical Plant to track capitalizable costs to improve energy efficiency
ENERGOPhysical Plant Energy - O & MFor Physical Plant to track operations & maintenance costs to improve energy efficiency. These costs do not extend the useful life or service capacity of the asset.
RESLFResidentail Life - CapitalTrack capitalizable costs to improve residence halls
RSLFOResidentail Life - O & MTrack operations & maintenance costs for residence halls. These costs do not extend the useful life or service capacity of the asset.

 

Hierarchy of Project Information

Each Non-Sponsored Project Type is associated with a certain allowed set of Project Activities. The Project Activity is a component of the chartstring, in addition to the PC Business Unit, Project ID, and Analysis Type. These chartfields are used by the other modules of PeopleSoft to process project transactions correctly and are therefore required for transactions using a project ID. See the Chart of Accounts User Guide (PDF) for more detailed information, including a list of Project Activities by Project Type.

Project-Related Chartfields
Chartfield NamePC Business UnitProjectActivityAnalysis Type
Field Length5643
Numeric (X) or Alpha (A)PC001XXXXXXAAAAAAA
PC Business Unit:
Defines the ledger the project will be accounted for in the Projects, Commitment Control, and Grants/Contracts modules. Non-Sponsored Projects use Business Unit PC001. The specific Commitment Control ledgers for PC001 projects are PC_PARENT & PC_CHILD for expense budgets and spending. Ledger PC_REV is for revenue budgets and revenue.
Project ID:
Unique numeric identifier/value for each project.
Activity:
The Activity chartfield allows for more granular detail about the project. Each Project Type has designated Project Activities. A Project ID can have multiple Activities which would allow for budgeting and transacting against each unique activity.
Analysis Type:
The Analysis Type chartfield is used to further categorize the transaction as expense (GLE) or revenue (GLR)