West Coast Conference on
College Cost Accounting -
WECA
August 26-28,
2002,
Waikiki Beach
Marriott Resort Hotel
Honolulu, Hawaii
AGENDA
10:30-1:00pm Registration
Location: Kona Moku Ballroom Lanai
1:00-1:15am Welcome
and Housekeeping
Location: Kalihi Room
Louis Guin, Chair
1:15-1:45am
Dr. Edward Laws, Keynote
Speaker
Dr. Laws is the Interim Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate
Education, and Professor of Oceanography at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Dr. Laws will discuss the research opportunities and challenges for the University of Hawaii.
1:45-02:45pm Asset Management for Colleges and
Universities
Many institutions are switching from use allowance to depreciation: What have we learned from the conversion? Issues about GASB 34/35, useful lives, capitalization thresholds, assets classification, and expense reconciliation will be covered. The impact of these changes on the F&A rate calculation will be addressed.
Presenter:
Doug Magee, American Appraisals
02:45-03:00pm Afternoon Break (Kona
Moku Ballroom Lanai)
03:00-4:00pm Federal Update
Status of the Utility Cost Adjustment, cost sharing, Disclosure
Statement and Standard Format reporting issues.
Latest development on the implementation of Public Law 106-107:
Overview of Federal effort to streamline the administration of grant programs
during the entire life cycle of grants management, including pre-award,
post-award, audit and cost principles. Discussion of the status of the P.L.
106-107 initiative to make the Federal cost principles in Circulars A-21, A087
and A-122 more consistent.
04:00-04:30pm “Who Wants To Be an F&A
Millionaire”
This is a fun game designed in a similar fashion to the TV game show “Who Wants to be a Millionaire”. It is modified to focus on the F&A experts of the world – YOU. The game will involve volunteer participants who will initially respond to true/false questions. We will require 10 volunteers for each game. This true/false part is called the “lightening round”. The winner of the lightening round will go on to the “Hot Seat” where “Regis” will take over. Prizes will be awarded. A sign-up sheet will be passed around. Please volunteer and join us in the fun and show everyone how much you know about F&A. This game will be played again on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Paul Nacon, Nilo Mia and Inna
Gvozdeva from MAXIMUS will host the game shows.
5:00-06:30pm Reception
Location: Oahu Room
07:00-08:30am Continental Breakfast
Location: Piinaio Room
08:30-10:00am F&A
and FB rates, and Systems Implementation Issues
Location: Apuakehau & Kuekaunahi Rooms
F&A Rate Calculation with New system implementations can affect the F&A rate proposal and DS-2's in ways that are sometimes unforeseen. This discussion will center on recent experience and suggest areas that need to be well planned to survive your System Implementation.
The Rapid Escalation of Fringe Benefits Costs: Many institutions are grapping with the rapid increase of health insurance, retirement and other benefits costs. The discussion will focus on cost containment measures and the concomitant impact on the FB rates calculation and negotiation.
A-133 Audits: process, responsibilities and shortcomings.
Tracey
Fraser and Deston Halverson, CALTECH
10:00-10:15am Morning Break
10:15-11:40am 30 Inter-related Systems of Research
Administration
A comprehensive view of research administration: from pre award to post award, F&A, Fringe Benefits and service centers rates determination, audit and compliance activities.
12:00-01:30pm Lunch
Location: Piinaio Room
01:30-02:30pm Federal
Demonstration Partnership: Initiative to streamline Research Administration
The FDP has established a Task Force to work on issues related to the implementation of Public Law 106-107. A subcommittee has been formed to evaluate ways to streamline the administrative regulations applicable for universities and nonprofits (such as OMB A-21, A-122, and A-110) that could yield significant cost savings without sacrificing accountability. The goal is to provide a measure of relief from the 26% administrative cap and yield cost savings that could be re-directed to fund compliance costs associated with scientific objectives and project-related accountability, such as protection of human subjects, animals use in research, conflict of interest, research misconduct and so on. Learn how you can participate and contribute to the discussion.
Pat
Fitzgerald, MIT
02:30-03:00pm F&A Cost Proposal Preparation
This session will focus on the development and allocation of the F&A cost pools. Coverage will include proper screening and scrubbing of accounts, sub-pooling concepts and practices and allocation. Specific cost pools to be addressed will include building and equipment depreciation, interest, operations and maintenance, general and administration, departmental administration, library and student services.
Presenter: Paul Nacon, MAXIMUS
Nilo Mia, MAXIMUS
03:00-03:15pm Break
03:15-04:15pm F&A Cost Proposal Preparation
(Cont’d)
Presenter: Paul Nacon, MAXIMUS
Nilo Mia, MAXIMUS
04:15-5:15pm
Implementation Challenges of
F&A Subsystems
Data quality assurance and oversight activities, coordination between central administrative offices and academic units, and methods for documenting cost sharing, effort reporting or after the fact confirmation, and space surveys and so on.
Presenters: Michael LeGrand and Darryl Lim, KPMG, LLP
05:15-05:45pm “Who Wants To Be an F&A
Millionaire”
Hosts: Paul Nacon, Nilo Mia
and Inna Gvozdeva from MAXIMUS
06:00-09:00pm Dinner
Location: Waikiki Terrace
07:00-08:00am Continental Breakfast
8:00
– 09:30am F&A Hot Issues
(College and University attendees only)
Many institutions have recently submitted, or are currently planning or calculating, the F&A rate proposals. Many institutions have made important decisions on building componentization, equipment classification, depreciation, estimation of interest costs for new research facilities, and new reporting requirements such as the standard format and DS-2 updates. Participants will have an opportunity to discuss these topics and other related cost issues.
Moderator:
Louis Guin, USC
09:30 –
09:45am Break
Location: Piinaio Room
09:45 –
12:00pm Federal Panel
Location: Apuakehau & Kuekaunahi Rooms
Pannel
Members:
Wally Chan, DHHS/DCA, San Francisco
Bob Klein, DHHS/DCA, San Francisco
Jane Turnert, DHHS/DCA, San Francisco
Debbi Raffi, ONR, Washington DC
Moderator: Gary Talesnik.