In order to prepare the university's facilities for the policy, Cornell began a trial run July 1, showing on departmental accounts what the deductions would have been if the plan had been in effect. "We're going to discover all its flaws," Barker says, adding that he expects opposition from some donors, who will have to choose between giving more to their favorite departments or having less impact on those departments. With the policy scheduled to go into effect July 1, 1990, Barker expects the university to save up to $3 million per year in indirect costs.
University Briefs
Ninety-nine percent of all gifts to Cornell University for research and education are restricted grants designated for specific purposes. But between 15% and 20% of these awards do not contribute to the university's general expenses, such as maintenance and utilities. In response to this inequity, Cornell University Provost Robert Barker has introduced a policy requiring that a certain percentage of all gifts must go to pay indirect costs, regardless of the donor's specifications. In some cases
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