Frequently Asked Questions

Review the Quick Start guide and watch the informational session recording.

View the Quick Start Application Guide and the recordings found on the main grants page.

Yes.

There is no limit on the number of proposals submitted by a single campus.

Yes.

Individuals may submit more than one proposal.

There is no required number of PIs.

Projects may have one or more PIs and co-PIs, depending on scope.

Yes.

No.

Campus FACT2 representatives are listed on the FACT2 website.

Foundant™ is SUNY’s online grant management system.

SUNY uses Foundant to manage electronic grant applications and awards.  All applications must go through Foundant, and the reviews are also completed in Foundant.

Applications are submitted online through Foundant.

Create an online account and follow the application directions. You may print the questions as a guide
and draft responses in a word processor. The Quick Start Guide  contains step-by-step guidance for completing and submitting your application.

Yes.

Applications can be saved in draft form until submission. Drafting responses offline and pasting them
into Foundant helps maintain a local backup.

You may edit your application until it is submitted.

Be sure your application is complete before final submission.

No — only one team member submits the proposal.

Teams should collaborate offline using the printed question guide, then paste finalized responses into Foundant.

Save frequently and avoid opening Foundant in multiple browsers.

Scroll to the bottom of the application regularly to save your work.

Yes.

You must upload a letter of support indicating that campus executive leadership is aware of and supports
the proposal, particularly when matching or in-kind funds are involved.

Yes.

The template is included in the Grants Preparation Checklist and in the application itself.

Not at the time of submission.

PIs are expected to consult with departments providing support. The application requires Senior campus leadership endorsements (provost, VP, CIO, grants officer, etc.) and a required letter of support from the campus CIO if project involves technology. Final award contracts typically require signatures from the PI, department chair or dean, campus financial officer, and Chief Academic Officer
(or designee).

Applications must be submitted by 11:59 pm on the published deadline date.

For the 2026–27 cycle, proposals are due Sunday, March 1, 2026, at 11:59 pm.
Deadlines vary by cycle—always confirm on the current Call for Proposals page.

IITG funds are state tax dollars and follow SUNY and local campus fiscal rules.

Funding is a line item in the New York State budget and is not associated with the Research Foundation.
Fiscal processes differ for state-operated campuses and community colleges. Sharing this FAQ with
campus offices may be helpful.

• State-Operated Campuses
• Community Colleges

Matching funds are required for projects over $15,000.

• 25% match for proposals between $15,001 and $30,000
• 50% match for proposals between $30,001 and $60,000

By June 30 of the fiscal year.

June 30 is a firm spending deadline. Campuses may impose earlier internal deadlines.
Extension requests must be submitted in writing by May 1 and are considered on a case-by-case basis.

Yes.

All state and campus procurement policies and procedures apply.

Yes.

Partnerships must be clearly articulated, comply with local campus policies, and be in the best
interest of the University.

Yes, if directly related to the project and approved.

Yes. Applicants are strongly encouraged to review campus HR and Academic Workload policies as applicable to compensation.

Yes, but infrastructure-only purchases are not allowed.

Technology must support pedagogical innovation rather than general campus infrastructure.
Campus-wide technology investments may count as matching funds. Reviewers assess whether the expense is reasonable and appropriately justified.

Yes, if directly related to grant activities.

Local campus travel policies and procedures apply. The grant application provides suggested travel budget limits for the SUNY CIT conference.

Yes, if specific criteria are met.

• Directly related to the grant
• Only incurred because the grant was awarded
• Fully documented with records
• Expenses must be reflected in the appropriate sub-object on the Budget Form and in the grant account (Personal Service, Temp Service, and OTPS).

Examples include:

• Hiring an adjunct due to course release caused by the grant
• Student assistants tracking documented grant-related hours

If multiple campuses are involved, we expect the application to identify a lead campus.

Grant funds are awarded to the lead campus only. Paying individuals at other campuses must be done through inter-campus fiscal arrangements. SUNY System Administration will not transfer funds between campuses.

Award acceptance, fiscal oversight, reporting, dissemination, and compliance are required.

• Award Acceptance Form and Identification of a campus fiscal contact
• Presentation at the SUNY CIT conference or another SUNY-sponsored conference
• Licensing and Accessibility:
  • All materials created with grant funds must use CC-BY licensing.
  • All materials must be made accessible to the public through various SUNY-supported platforms.
  • Open-source licensing for software
  • All revised or newly created materials are required to be developed based on SUNY Electronic and Information Technology (EIT) Accessibility Policy.
• If the project includes OER course sections, OER course sections affected by this project must be reported into SIRIS
• Participation in audits
• Midyear Reporting:
  • Teams must submit a midyear report in January, detailing what work has been completed and a plan and timeline for the remaining work.
  • At the midyear point, all expenses incurred so far must be reflected in the grant account

Midyear Reporting:

• Teams must submit a midyear report in January, detailing what work has been completed and a plan and timeline for the remaining work.
• At the midyear point, all expenses incurred so far must be reflected in the grant account

Outcomes should be shared across SUNY and, where appropriate, more broadly.

This may include the SUNY repositories, peer-reviewed journals, open-access publications,
campus websites or newsletters, conferences, and professional events.

Proposals undergo peer review followed by system-level evaluation.

Submissions are reviewed by peers and then evaluated by the Innovative Instruction Research Council (IIRC) and SUNY OER Services. Funding recommendations are made to the Provost, who makes final decisions.

Applicants are typically notified in mid-May.

Notification timing may vary by grant cycle.