July 8, 2019

Drexel University has finalized the negotiations of the fiscal year 2020 fringe benefits rates for sponsored projects with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). The finalized rates are for full-time employees have decreased from 31.9% to 31.7% from the proposed rate. Part-time and DUCOM Highly Compensated Faculty rates remain the same as the proposed rates. Coeus and Banner have both been updated to reflect the new rates effective July 1, 2019.

For fiscal year 2020, the Academy of Natural Sciences (ANS) will revert to using their non-sponsored fringe benefit rates which are listed below. Proposal submissions for ANS should utilize these rates for any salary and wages after July 1, 2019. Coeus and Banner have also been updated to reflect this change.

The fiscal year 2020 approved fringe benefit rates for sponsored research are:

The full-time employee rate captures all full-time, benefit-eligible faculty and professional staff. Post-doctoral students hired as full-time professional staff are also included in the full-time employee rate. This group is considered one rate pool because they are all eligible for the same benefit offerings. 

The part-time employee rate includes both part-time benefit eligible and non-benefit eligible employees (e.g. temporary employees, co-ops).

The DUCOM highly compensated faculty rate, previously referred to in our agreement with DHHS as Clinical Faculty Rate, is specific to full-time, benefit- eligible, College of Medicine faculty in the “F5” employee class. College of Medicine faculty are automatically assigned to the highly compensated employee classification on hire or when their base salary reaches the annual threshold.

Please note that students are not subject to FICA tax per IRS regulations and as such, do not warrant a separate fringe rate.

If you have any questions regarding the new rates they can be directed to Evelyn Balabis at 215.895.2946 or Gabrielle Berrios at 215.895.1730. Current and prior year rates and rate agreements can be found on the fringe benefit page of the Research Accounting website.