Effective Date: March 23, 2026
SECTION 1. PURPOSE & SCOPE
1.1. PURPOSE: This policy indicates who is, and who is not, eligible to serve as a Principal Investigator (PI) on a grant awarded to Fairmont State University.
1.2. SCOPE: Fairmont State University allows faculty and staff with the proper level of training, skill, authority, and responsibility to direct research, projects, and other sponsored programs by granting them Principal Investigator or Project Director status.
SECTION 2. APPROVAL, DELEGATION & APPLICABILITY
2.1. AUTHORITY: The Director of the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP), in consultation with other University leaders, has the authority to determine the eligibility of potential PIs.
2.2. DELEGATION: The Director of OSP may delegate this authority as appropriate.
2.3. APPLICABILITY: This policy applies to all employees of Fairmont State University who plan to seek external funding.
SECTION 3. DEFINITIONS
3.1. CO-PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR(S): Member(s) of the key personnel team who shares administrative, fiscal, and academic responsibilities with the PI.
3.2. PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR/PROJECT DIRECTOR (PI/PD): The person designated as the project/program manager; usually the same person who applies for the grant.
SECTION 4. POLICY
4.1. It is the policy of Fairmont State University that, although certain programs or sponsors may identify criteria for PI/PD eligibility, PI/PD is generally defined as:
4.1.1. Full-time or part-time probationary or tenured faculty members with any of the following titles: Full Professor, Associate Professor, Assistant Professor, or Instructor.
4.1.2. Full-time or part-time staff members or administrators whose experience and position within the University align with the scope and responsibility of the sponsored project.
4.1.3. Undergraduate and graduate students at Fairmont State are not eligible to serve as PIs. A faculty or staff member may serve as PI for a student-initiated project.
4.2. Special circumstances may dictate that an employee not meeting the above requirements could serve as a principal investigator if needed. In cases where the sponsoring agency has requirements or restrictions beyond Fairmont State’s policy, the sponsor’s requirements will take precedence over institutional guidelines for that project.
4.3. The same eligibility requirements for a PI are applicable to a Co-PI. Some programs or sponsor consider PIs and Co-PIs to share equal responsibility on a project.
4.4. Fairmont State considers the PI to be the individual ultimately responsible for the design, management, and execution of a sponsored program or research project, as well as for meeting the reporting requirements and maintaining compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and institutional policy governing the conduct of the project.
SECTION 5. COMPLIANCE
5.1. COMPLIANCE: This policy complies with NSF PAPPG 24-1 Exhibit II-3 Definition of a Principal Investigator.
5.2. NONCOMPLIANCE: Individuals who do not meet the eligibility criteria above may not serve as a PI on behalf of Fairmont State University, unless special circumstances allow.
SECTION 6. REVISION HISTORY
6.1. FREQUENCY OF REVIEW: OSP will review this policy annually.
6.2. APPROVED: Approved by President Davis on March 20, 2026.