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What Are “F&A” Costs?

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Students in orientation take a selfie with Mrs. Wuf.

Jun 24, 2025

Supporting Incoming Students

Written by Zeryn Macklin. Every summer, the University Cashier’s Office (UCO) plays an active role in welcoming incoming students and their families through NC State’s Orientation program. As we gear up to welcoming the newest members of the Wolfpack, it’s a great opportunity to highlight how we support financial preparedness for the fall semester.  Money…
Two blocks featuring a green plus sign and dollar sign next to two blocks with a red minus sign and dollar sign. In between the sets of blocks is a red block with a white scale icon.

Jun 24, 2025

OMAR as a Reconciliation Tool

Written by Stefanie Keto, Assistant Director Post Award (CNR). Recent discussions about the importance of account reconciliation within the realm of contracts and grants highlight the Online Monthly Activity Reconciliation (OMAR) tool. As an avid user of OMAR for over a decade, I can attest that this tool offers transparency and efficiency to the reconciliation process. I know…

May 28, 2025

Fresh Updates to the UCO Website

Written by Zeryn Macklin. The University Cashier’s Office (UCO) recently launched a newly designed website aimed at making information easier to find and navigate. While the Student Services Center remains the main hub for student-facing tools like tuition and fees, billing, payments and refunds, the UCO website focuses on highlighting our services, resources and operational…

May 28, 2025

Uncancellable Costs When a Grant Is Terminated

Written by Justo Torres. When a grant is unexpectedly terminated—due to project changes, funding cuts or noncompliance—grantees often face financial obligations that cannot simply be canceled. These are known as uncancellable costs, and they refer to commitments that were made in good faith under the assumption that the project would continue as planned. Uncancellable costs…
Decorative image with the words "Summer Billing Facts"

Apr 25, 2025

What’s Different About Summer Billing?

Written by Zeryn Macklin. As summer sessions are in full swing, it’s worth noting that billing policies differ slightly from fall and spring semesters. Here are a few key differences to keep in mind: Key Differences for Summer Financial Aid  Summer financial aid is structured a bit differently, as students must be enrolled in at…
Stack of wooden blocks with the following words on each block" Regulations, rules-law, requirements, compliance, standards, transparency, policies"

Apr 25, 2025

The Role of a Cognizant Agency

Written by Justo Torres. A cognizant agency plays a key oversight role in the administration of federal funding to organizations, particularly in higher education institutions, non-profits and other entities that receive significant government grants. Its primary responsibility is to act as the main liaison between the federal government and the recipient organization, ensuring compliance with…
A picture of Alexis Levenson, Associate Director of Operations for the University Cashier's Office.

Mar 25, 2025

Meet Alexis Levenson

Written by Zeryn Macklin. The University Cashier’s Office (UCO) offers a warm welcome to Alexis Levenson, Associate Director of Operations, who joined the UCO in February. Alexis brings a wealth of experience in student accounts and cashiering, as well as a strong background in the UNC System. Previously, Alexis served as the Director of Student…
A decorative image showing rocks balancing on a scale made of wood and another rock.

Mar 25, 2025

Grants Versus Gifts

Written by Justo Torres. In the context of universities, both grants and gifts provide essential financial support, but they differ significantly in purpose, requirements and use. What are Grants? Grants are typically awarded by government agencies, foundations or other organizations to support specific projects or research. These funds are usually tied to a set of…
piggy bank with graduation cap on

Feb 25, 2025

Understanding Residency Classification

Written by Zeryn Macklin. As we prepare for the upcoming summer and fall semesters, it is important to understand how residency classification affects tuition billing so that we can support students, if needed. Residency status determines whether a student is charged in-state or out-of-state tuition, and timely updates are essential to avoid billing discrepancies. How…
A dropper squeezing a drop of clear liquid into a test tube. The droplet has a dollar symbol in it.

Feb 25, 2025

What Are “F&A” Costs?

Written by Justo Torres. Facilities and Administrative (F&A) costs, also known as indirect costs, refer to expenses that support research, projects or general operations but cannot be directly attributed to a specific project or activity. These costs are critical for organizations, particularly universities and research institutions, as they provide essential infrastructure and administrative support necessary…