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  1. If my percent of effort changes on a project do I need to get approval from the sponsor?
  2. What changes require prior approval from the sponsor?
  3. What about extending the end date?

  4. Are there additional University of Iowa change approval requirements for human subjects research?

1. What do I do if I need to make significant changes to a project? 

Significant changes to externally funded projects generally require prior sponsor approval. Principal investigators (PIs) and departments are responsible for confirming sponsor requirements before implementing changes to the scope of work, key personnel, budget, or other aspects of project management that require notice or approval.

Notice and approval requirements vary by project and depend on the specific notice of award, grant, or contract; the sponsor’s general terms and conditions; and applicable University of Iowa policies.

Always review the specific notice of award and consult the Division of Sponsored Programs (DSP) with questions (refer to the DSP staff directory or email dsp@uiowa.edu). Include your departmental or collegiate pre-award research administrator when making project changes. Refer to the DSP website to identify your departmental or collegiate pre-award research administrator.

2. What changes require prior approval from the sponsor?

The following are general categories of changes that may require sponsor approval:

  • Changes in key personnel, including adding or removing key personnel or significantly changing effort commitments.
  • Changes in scope of work or project objectives.
  • Rebudgeting requests.
  • Adding or changing subrecipients (subawards).
  • Requests for additional funding.
  • Adding a foreign component to the project. 

*Note: Specific sponsor requirements are outlined in the notice of award and the sponsor’s general terms and conditions. Contact DSP with questions.

3. What about extending the end date?

For some federal awards, the university must notify the sponsor of a one-time no-cost extension. Other extensions typically require sponsor approval. Contact DSP regarding project extensions (refer to the DSP staff directory or email dsp@uiowa.edu).

4. Are there additional University of Iowa change approval requirements for human subjects research?

For human subjects research, submit a HawkIRB modification form to change the PI. For projects overseen by an external institutional review board (IRB), notify the lead site and/or IRB of record of any PI change.