Faculty Recognition Investment Program

By offering modest financial incentives to all faculty and staff in recognition of their research accomplishments, our aim is to cultivate an environment that promotes research excellence and sustained growth. This incentive program aligns with the Lead On Strategic Plan (P1S1T4, P1S3T5, P5S1T1, P5S5T8) by encouraging cutting-edge discoveries and patents, as well as high impact publications, performances, and art, all of which contribute to the institution's reputation and standing in the global academic community. Ultimately, monetary incentives can serve as one of many strategic tools to attract and retain top-tier talent, thereby positioning the institution at the forefront of academic excellence and industry collaboration.

  Large Grant Award Recognition

STEM* faculty or staff

If an OU faculty or staff member receives an external sponsored research or creative activity grant award (or sub-award) through the Office of Research Services greater than $3 million, the individual will be recognized with a cash incentive of 0.5% of the value of the grant award (or sub-award). The total grant award (or sub-award) amount eligible for the cash incentive will be capped at $25 million.

Non-STEM** faculty or staff

If an OU faculty or staff member receives an external sponsored research or creative activity grant award (or sub-award) through the Office of Research Services greater than $100,000, the individual will be recognized with a cash incentive of 0.5% of the value of the grant award (or sub-award). The total grant award (or sub-award) amount eligible for the cash incentive will be capped at $25 million.

Terms of the cash incentive award:

• Awards granted in FY25 are eligible in this cycle. Future recognition awards will depend on the availability of funds.
• For collaborative grants, after the award is granted, the Principal Investigator (PI) will submit an annual distribution plan to the OVPRP, outlining how the cash incentive funds will be allocated to the OU Norman Campus team members (external collaborators are not eligible for a cash incentive).
• If the award is for a multi-year grant, the cash incentive will be paid on an annual basis for the duration of the grant.
• If the grant is terminated by the sponsor earlier than the original term of the award, the cash incentive will stop at that point.
• If the grant terms are altered by the sponsor during the period of performance, the cash incentive will be adjusted accordingly.
• If the principal investigator leaves the University of Oklahoma and the grant is terminated by the sponsor, or the grant moves to a different institution, the cash incentive will stop.
• The disposition of the cash incentive will be at the discretion of the PI and Co-PIs. The cash incentive can be taken as a personal non-base building salary supplement, or as funds in support of the PI’s and/or Co-PI’s university-based research efforts.

*STEM disciplines are defined by the National Science Foundation here: NSF Approved Fields of Study (PDF)
**For the purpose of this program, non-STEM faculty are defined as those working in a field not listed in the National Science Foundation’s list of STEM disciplines.

  Highly Prestigious Faculty Awards

Faculty or staff receiving an award that is listed on the NRC highly prestigious award list (https://www.aau.edu/key-issues/national-research- council-list-highly-prestigious-awards) are eligible for a $3,000 one-time salary supplement in the year that the award is received. Newly elected members to the National Academies of Science, Engineering, or Medicine are eligible for a $5,000 one-time salary supplement in the year of election. All NRC Highly Prestigious awards received in FY24 are eligible in this cycle. Awardees will be recognized during the OVPRP annual research excellence awards ceremony. Future awards will depend on the availability of funds.