Sponsor
Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)
Description
In this time of unprecedented disruption, we wanted to reassure you that we recognize the COVID-19 pandemic may affect you and your loved ones’ physical and/or mental health. We understand that you may be facing many challenges, including delays or interruptions in your ability to conduct and review research; teach and mentor students; supervise postdoctoral researchers; prepare and submit publications or grant and scholarship applications, among other things. We understand that some research could be jeopardized or slowed down, the preparation of research and financial reports may be delayed, and meetings, events, and travel plans may also be affected. SSHRC will continue to support the community as we adapt to these challenges.
Strength in the social sciences and humanities research community is our understanding of the human aspect of such crises. We recognize the priority to ensure your health and safety, and that of your families, students, employees, friends and colleagues. At SSHRC, we are likewise involved in supporting our staff as we all adapt to a new way of working.
We appreciate your patience as SSHRC is taking appropriate measures to analyze and implement necessary adjustments to its operations as we monitor the evolving impact of COVID-19. The situation continues to evolve rapidly, and we will make further adjustments as needed.
Over the coming days and weeks, we will provide program-specific information, noting adjustments to application deadlines and reporting due dates, as needed. Check out this webpage regularly to learn more about the impacts of COVID-19 on SSHRC’s programs.
General program information
SSHRC programs - Program specific details
Grant extensions
SSHRC recognizes that agency-funded research activities may be delayed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Academic institutions can immediately approve extension requests of up to 12 months to agency grants with an end date between February 1, 2020, and March 31, 2021, inclusively. Researchers should contact their institutions to request an extension. This provision applies to all grants, regardless of whether they were previously extended for any length or any reason (including, where applicable, automatic extensions). It will have no impact for applications awarded in the fall 2020 competitions.
This provision will allow grantees to continue spending grant funds, and institutions to delay the processing of residual grant funds (as per the Guidelines for the General Research Fund). Institutions are to keep complete and accurate records on the grants being extended. Information will soon be available on how institutions can notify SSHRC of the details of these extensions.
Travel and Travel Cancellations
SSHRC recognizes that in addition to the costs of cancelled travel plans as described in an earlier tri-agency statement, researchers and/or members of their teams may incur other non-refundable expenses due to cancelled travel and/or meetings as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Provided the expenses would have been eligible had the travel/meeting taken place as planned, these non-refundable costs can be reimbursed out of existing grant funds.
Other Exceptional Expenditures
SSHRC recognizes that in some cases, other costs may be incurred related to ongoing financial commitments, such as salaries or stipends of individuals paid out of agency grants. For example, one of these individuals may be required to self-isolate and/or unable to work or telework due to the COVID-19 pandemic. SSHRC confirms these costs can be paid from existing grant funds, provided they are not covered by other sources of funds from within the institution and these expenses would have otherwise been eligible to be paid out of the grant.