Participant Support Stipends or Subsistence Allowances
Participant Support stipends or subsistence allowances are paid to help defray the costs of personal maintenance while participating in a conference or training activity. Participants may be paid a stipend, per diem or subsistence allowance, based on the type and duration of the activity, as outlined in the pertinent sponsored program announcement and in the grant instrument. Such allowances must be reasonable and conform to Institute policies. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the department/unit and each participant is recommended. Please refer to G&C Policy No. 3.12.4.a – Memorandum of Understanding to obtain an MOU template.
Human Subject/ Research Participant payments are defined differently from Participant Support and are not included under the purview of this policy. Please see Georgia Institute of Technology Institutional Review Board Policies & Procedures – XIV “Compensation and Incentives for Research Participation.” Questions regarding these payments may be directed to ap.ask@business.gatech.edu.
Participant Support Reimbursement of Expenses
Travel costs of participants in research of instructional training programs may be allowable as outlined in the pertinent program announcement, the grant instrument, and Georgia Tech policy. For participant expense reimbursements, the participant should retain original receipts and submit only copies with the reimbursement request.
Participant Support Payments to GT students
Participant Support payments can be made using one of the following methods:
- Payment through the Accounts Payable Office using an AP Payment Request Form (formally known as the Check Request form) and the recommended MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING - PARTICIPANT SUPPORT STIPENDS OR SUBSISTENCE ALLOWANCES for direct payment to the participants.
- Payment through Financial Aid (ie: SURE, FACES) using an appropriate project specific to Undergraduate or Graduate students (i.e., projects with a 997 or 998 prefix).
- Payment through payroll if the participant is being paid a stipend and is already paid as a student employee through payroll. The stipend amount for students already paid through payroll must be set up in the SPD/Payroll system by the department. A subproject should be set up in the accounting system within the same fund for the participant support costs with a zero percent F&A rate.
Payments to non-student participants
Submit an AP Payment Request Form (Formally Check Request Form), Vendor Profile Form, and a recommended MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING - PARTICIPANT SUPPORT STIPENDS OR SUBSISTENCE ALLOWANCES to the Institute’s Accounts Payable department. The check box on the AP Payment Request Form form should be marked "Non-GT Student Training Stipends, Non-Employee Awards (Sponsored Funds Only)" if used for stipend payments and "Reimbursement" for other expense reimbursements. For travel reimbursement see Policy No. 6.16 – Non-Employee Travel.
For additional information regarding the AP Payment Request Form, please contact ap.ask@business.gatech.edu or go to www.procurement.gatech.edu.
IRS Regulatory Requirements
The Institution will report participant support payments to the individual on IRS Form 1099-Misc at the end of each year or W-2 if the student/participant is paid through payroll.
Contact the Grants and Contracts Accounting Department at gc.ask@business.gatech.edu for specific guidance related to managing sponsored projects at Georgia Tech.