New Faculty Hire Package Guidelines

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Start-up funds are to be used to support the development of your scholarly and creative work. Start-up funds are provided to support your research initiatives during your first three years at Texas Tech University.

Process

Start-up request negotiations must be for an individual; requests will not be considered for positions. The FY 2026, FY 2027, and FY 2028 start-up forms are linked here along with a checklist of documents to be included in the start-up package. The appropriate form and required addendum information must be completed and routed for approval and signatures prior to sending a faculty offer.

Packages will route first to College Dean's Office for review/approval – please consult with your College about your in-house process.

The College will send the completed package to the Vice Provost for Faculty Success. The Vice Provost will review the offer letter and the Executive Director of Academic Finance will review the requested Provost’s contribution to the package. Once approved, the Vice Provost will send the package to the Office of Research and Innovation. OR&I will review the package and return a decision directly to the college submitting the package.

Please note that all centrally requested equipment (HEAF) should be split equally across the VPRI and Provost Office lines. For example, if an equipment (HEF) request would have been $6k to the OR&I prior, please apply $3k to each line. No other funds are available from the Provost’s office.

All packages must include a justification statement with a categorical breakdown of all funding requested by fiscal year. Salary must be broken out into salary type needed: Faculty, Graduate Student, Research Assistant, or Other Salary. Due to the nature of the start-up funding source, the justification statement should include a statement as to how the request meets the directive of promoting increased research capacity at Texas Tech University. Additionally, the OR&I and Provost Office start-up funding sources are state-restricted which limits request consideration to those compliant with the State of Texas and Texas Tech University expenditure guidelines.

What types of purchases are allowed?

Start-up funds may be used to purchase items that will aid you in acquiring external funding and further your research initiatives. Some of these expenditures include salary support, equipment, travel, software, lab supplies, etc. All purchases must fall in line with state and university guidelines

TUF Start Up – 11B192 Funds

TUF funds support research expenses such as equipment, non-capital facility modifications to support research, supplies, salaries, etc. Funds will be allocated for the budgeted amount.  Facility modification funding will be established in a project fund under the supervision of the Operations Division. TUF funds have some restrictions.  Please see the TUF guidelines. The funds must be used as detailed in the approved application, including any matching funds.  Prepayments support the public purpose and are only permitted for cost savings or, if required, for specialized goods or services

Deadline: multi-year support must be completed within three years or as listed in the approved request.  

HEF – 13A048 Funds

Funds support equipment purchases. Funds are provided from OR&I and the Provost Offices (50/50 split). Funds are available for 3 fiscal years from start date (ex: Award month, September 2021, deadline to use August 31, 2023). 

Deadline: August 31st, from first year of award

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Unsuccessful Recruitment 

Please note that all start-up allocations are for the individuals for whom they were requested. Any start-up distributions not being spent for the requested individual or for an individual who was recruited unsuccessfully must be canceled as soon as possible by notifying all parties and returning any distributed funding.

Unused Funds

HEF (13A048) and TUF (11B192) funds will carry forward for 3 years from your start date.  Except for instances where an extension of the tenure clock has been granted, requests to carry startup funds forward beyond the third year should be submitted to startup.vpr@ttu.edu through the Start-Up Funding Carry Forward Exception Form. Please note, your dean, research dean, and department chair must sign this form for consideration.

Notification of the request will be sent to the Chief Financial Officer. The justification of the requested carry forward must be linked to specific activities or objectives that bear on research success and productivity. Generally, only carry forward requests of a modest size will be approved.

Travel Expenses

International travel expenses are not allowed on 11B192 funds. If funds for international travel are needed, a trade within your college/department can be made with OR&I approval. If your college/department does not have the correct funds for international travel, a possible trade with OR&I can be made.

A travel credit card for all domestic travel expenses applied against 11B192 is required. You can work with your departmental business manager to get this application submitted/processes through Procurement Services.

These guidelines are available as a download here.

For questions, please contact Josie Solis at josie.solis@ttu.edu or (806) 742-3905.