We are pleased to announce that recent changes in the methods for calculating the departmental administration portion of the indirect cost rate has allowed us to make substantial modifications to the Personnel Activity Reporting (PAR) System. The current PAR System documents effort related to (1) salaries paid from Federal projects; (2) cost sharing to Federal projects; and (3) departmental administration. Because we no longer need to capture departmental administration effort through the PAR System, beginning with the Classified employees third quarter PARs printed October 30, 1995, the following changes to the PAR System will be effective for UW-Madison, UW-Milwaukee and UW-Extension:

PARs for Classified employees will print and document only effort related to Federal salaries and cost sharing.

PARs for Classified employees will be redesigned and will look like the PARs for Unclassified employees. PARs for Unclassified employees will not be changed since they currently document only effort related to Federal salaries and cost sharing.

The Departmental Administration Survey Form (DASF), used to capture departmental administration effort for Unclassified employees, will be discontinued.

Preliminary estimates indicate that the number of PARs printed each quarter for Classified employees at UW-Madison will decrease from approximately 3,200 to approximately 700. The remaining 700 PARs should require less work since an employee’s effort would generally be in one department. Other reports that in the past have accompanied the PARs (the dollar summary and check-off list) will continue.

It is important to remember that review and certification procedures have not changed; the employee or individual with first hand knowledge must review and certify the PAR.

If you have questions about the above changes, contact Robert Andresen at 608-262-2896.