Full time faculty members doing research can apply for a research load credit (RLC) to partially satisfy their required load of 12 units per semester.

The deadline for RLC applications are usually due around the beginning of every academic semester and closing of RLC is before the start of the next RLC applications. New RLC applications will not be allowed unless applications from the previous semester have been successfully closed.

Application procedure

Step 1. Log in to TALAS.

Step 2. For new projects, go to the ‘Project Creation’ tab and upload all necessary information through the ‘Create project’ button. Make sure to include the following as attachments:

• Signed Research Project Contract or Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) of the project* [label the file as Abbreviated Project Title_MOA. e.g., Forest_MOA]
• Approved LIB or projected expenses for personally funded-projects [label the file as Abbreviated Project Title_LIB. e.g., Forest_LIB]

*Note that only projects with a signed contract or MOA will be considered as a project for RLC purposes.

Step 3. For existing projects, go to the ‘Project Monitoring’ tab and upload the following information through the ‘Edit’ button of the appropriate project. Make sure to include the following as attachments:

• Most recently approved LIB (esp. re-aligned budget) if applicable [label the file as Abbreviated Project Title_LIB_implementation year_number of realignment (if applicable). e.g., Forest_LIB_Y1_realigned1 OR Forest_LIB_Y2]
• Approved extension request (if applicable) [label the file as Abbreviated Project Title_ext letter. e.g., Forest_ext letter] – then change the end date of the project as necessary.

Step 3. Under the ‘Request for RLC/CWLC’ tab, click the ‘Request RLC/CWLC’ button after choosing the appropriate semester of application.

Step 4. Add all projects that will be implemented during the appropriate semester of application through the ‘Add project’ button. Make sure to indicate the corresponding number of units per project*.

*Note that Faculty members who are project leaders (supervising at least 1 researcher) may apply for 3 units of RLC per project. However, if total RLC exceeds 6 units, then a strong justification letter must be uploaded.

Step 5. Submit the RLC application.

Faculty members may apply for a maximum of 3 units of RLC through Personally Funded Projects. New faculty members may apply for 3 units of RLC with ‘submission of a project proposal’ as target deliverables [see below for IB and CS Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) for Personally Funded Projects]. All personally funded projects must also include a project contract detailing the research proposal duly evaluated by the IB Res Comm prior to endorsement to the dean. Upload the signed contract to TALAS and submit the research proposal to the Deputy Director for Research and Extension (DDRE) for review, following the IB Research Grant Application process. No need to secure the signature of the director and the dean prior to the review. See CS and IB IRR below for timeline and additional instructions.

Closing procedure

Manually input the following information to TALAS:

• Project Update Type (Progress Update/Final Update)
• Description of Accomplishment*

*For the “Description of Accomplishment”, you can either write the description of your accomplishment or simply put “See attached Progress/Final Report” and upload your progress/final report with proper labels [TALAS Project ID or Title of the Project (e.g., Final/Progress Report_Proj ID/Title of Project)].

For more information, please see MEMORANDUM NO. CMFO 24-038 and MEMORANDUM: CS-DFLO 2024-004, together with additional instructions from the college of science.