Purpose

 

To define educational activities and funds for the VMRF. In addition, this policy describes the mechanism for requesting approval for education projects and donations.

General Information

1. VMRF may accept funds (restricted and unrestricted) from for-profit, non-profit, public or private entities.
2. All donations and educational funds must first be reviewed and approved under prescribed procedures (see Sec. C).
3. Funds donated in support of an Investigator's research are accepted only if the investigator has a VA appointment (salaried or WOC).
4. Any residual funds remaining after an educational activity that the donor does not want returned will be used for the general support of approved VMRF activities.
5. All funds or request of funds must be accompanied by the VMRF required checklist and statement of economic interest forms.
6. All submissions must be submitted to the VMRF core offices by the second to last Tuesday of each month to be included in the following months VA compliance reviews (IRC and R&D committees).
7. VA employees are advised to review applicable VA policies on solicitation of funds.

Education Funding Procedures

1. All educational funds must be reviewed and approved by the VASDHS Education Committee.
2. Types of education and training activities which may be approved are:
3. Patient related activities. These activities include education activities for veterans, their families and guardians, including instruction or other learning experiences related to improving or maintaining the health of veterans.
4. Employees. Work-related experiences for employees designed to improve performance of current duties, maintaining or gaining specialized proficiencies, or expand understanding of advances or changes in patient care, technology, or health care administration.
5. Any education or training conducted as part of a residency or other program designed to prepare an individual for an occupation or profession is included in this policy.
6. Education activities for the purpose of furthering research goals and research capabilities are excluded from education fund procedures and will follow applicable research funding policies and procedures. Education activities may be funded through education project specific or unrestricted funds.

Education Projects

1. All education projects must include signed documentation outlining the scope of work and other applicable contractual items such as payment, appointment of principal investigator, project period, reporting obligations, etc.
2. All funds must be made payable to Veterans Medical Research Foundation
3. All education projects must be reviewed and approved by the VA/VMRF Independent Review Committee and the VA Education Committee.

Education Donations

1. All education donations must include a letter from the sponsor, which delegates the funds as an educational donation. (Sample Letter)
2. All funds must be made payable to Veterans Medical Research Foundation.
3. If the sponsor is a public entity, the donation letter must be on company letterhead.
4. All educational funds must be reviewed and approved by the VA/VMRF Independent Review Committee and the VA Education Committee.
5. Donations may not be used to cover Principal Investigators' salaries.
6. There may be no reporting requirements associated with a donation.

 

Approved by the VMRF Board of Directors: 7/18/2003