Learn about the Certification of Personnel Costs

Who has to self-certify?

In the past, the University has permitted a variety of individuals, including Departmental Administrators (DAs), to certify effort, as long as they have the requisite knowledge to do so.

• Under current University policy, all Officers of Instruction and Officers of Research (other than postdocs) who work on sponsored projects are required to self-certify their effort.
• Principal Investigators are required to certify the activity of graduate students, postdocs and staff funded by their grants.

When does certification occur?

The University's fiscal year runs from July 1 to June 30. The certification period opens in the Fall. Until then, all self-certifiers and PIs should review effort quarterly in ECRT.

What is the Effort Coordinator’s role in effort reporting?

In the past, the departmental administrator was often responsible for certifying the effort of faculty in his or her department. Under current University policy, administrators cannot certify faculty effort. However, administrators still fulfill key responsibilities as Effort Coordinators. Among other things, Effort Coordinators are responsible for supporting faculty certification, including PI certification of personnel working on their sponsored projects; helping faculty monitor their effort during the year; and processing any necessary changes in Columbia’s accounting system to reflect changes in effort allocations.

For more information on effort reporting roles and responsibilities, download our Effort Reporting Roles and Responsibilities (pdf).