Vilas Awards

Page Updated: June 24, 2024

The William F. Vilas Trust Estate provides funding each year for the programs listed below. Under each link we have provided an overview of the award and specific terms that need to be followed according to the trust agreement. Links to additional information are found below the Vilas Award Details section. For questions or concerns, please send an email to vilasawards@rsp.wisc.edu or contact RSP Accountants, Ryan Albrecht at 608-263-5102 or John Ackah at 608-263-7057. The NonFederal Team Manager is Don Rauls, at 608-262-5469 or don.rauls@rsp.wisc.edu. Click here to visit the Provost's Office to learn more about Vilas opportunities.

Please Note
New Summer Salary restrictions effective 7/1/18. See the Summer Salary Rates page for details.

Vilas Award Details

Vilas Research Professorship Award

Overview

  • RSP will setup a new 133 project each fiscal year until the recipient retires or leaves the UW.
  • The award period is July-June and is not negotiable.
  • The award is set up and administered through the recipient's own department/college.
  • Award provides faculty salary of $10,000 and flexible research funds of $50,000.
  • Carryover to the next fiscal year and rebudgeting is not allowed per the terms of the Vilas Trust. There are NO exceptions.
  • Unspent funds will be returned to the Vilas Trust at the end of each fiscal year.
  • Project number details and expenditure questions should be directed to email vilasawards@rsp.wisc.edu or the RSP Accountant Ryan Albrecht at 608-262-5102.

Expenditures

  • Faculty salary is capped at $10,000 each year. No fringe benefits are allowed on the award. RSP removes the fringe benefits each month at no charge to the department.
  • Flexible funds may not be used to provide additional salary support for the award winner or other faculty members.
  • Flexible funds may not be used for scholarships, fellowships or to direct charge tuition.
  • Flexible funds may not be used to purchase alcohol.
  • Items purchased with flexible funds are subject to the State, University and Department policies/guidelines, and procedures.
  • Expenditures must benefit the recipient's research activities. Purchasing items for general departmental use or for the sole use of another PI's research, for example, would not be permitted.
  • A justification of research expenses may be required at times to clarify the benefit to the recipient's research activities.
Vilas Associates Award

Overview

  • Award letters are provided by the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research.
  • The award covers two fiscal years and award letters are sent out prior to the start of each fiscal year.
  • RSP will setup a 133 project for each fiscal year.
  • The award is set up and administered through the recipient's department/college.
  • The award provides summer salary and fringe benefits for the award winner and flexible research funds (see details below).
  • Carryover to the next fiscal year and rebudgeting are unallowable per the terms of the Vilas Trust. There are NO exceptions.
  • Unspent funds will be returned to the Vilas Trust at the end of each fiscal year.
  • Project number details and expenditure questions should be directed to email vilasawards@rsp.wisc.edu or the RSP Accountant Ryan Albrecht at 608-263-5102.

Summer Salary

  • Faculty who are paid on an annual (12 month) basis are only eligible for flexible research funds (see Flexible Fund details below).
  • Faculty summer salary is for July and August pay periods of the award year only, no exceptions are allowed.
  • Faculty summer salary is limited to 2/9ths of the lowest paid Vilas Research Professor’s salary. This amount is subject to change each fiscal year. Summer salary amounts will be provided in the award letter and on the Vilas Awards Summer Salary Rates page.
  • Fringe benefits associated with faculty summer salary payments are provided as part of this award.

Flexible Funds

  • Flexible funds in the amount of $12,500 are provided for each fiscal year. Flexible funds not spent during a fiscal year are lost. Carryover of is not allowed per the terms of the Vilas Trust. There are NO exceptions.
  • Flexible funds may not be used to provide additional salary support for the award winner or other faculty members.
  • If flexible funds are used for other salary support, the associated fringe benefit and tuition remission charges will also be paid from the flexible fund.
  • Items purchased with flexible funds are subject to the State, University and Department policies/guidelines, and procedures.
  • Expenditures must benefit the recipient's research activities. Purchasing items for general departmental use or for the sole use of another PI's research, for example, would not be permitted.
  • A justification of research expenses may be required at times to clarify the benefit to the recipient's research activities.
  • Flexible funds may not be used for scholarships, fellowships or to direct charge tuition.
Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professorship Award

Overview

  • Award letter is provided by the Provost Office. This is a five year professorship, however the Vilas funds only cover three fiscal years.
  • RSP will setup a 133 project for three fiscal years in the amount of $50,000 for the Vilas funded portion of the award. There is a required match of $25,000 over the five year award period and a minimum requirement of $5,000 match each fiscal year. RSP will review the match project budget each year to verify minimum requirement is met.
  • The department is responsible for setting up the match project and must provide the match project number to vilasawards@rsp.wisc.edu before the 133 Vilas project number is assigned.
  • The award is set up and administered through the winner’s own department/college.
  • Unspent funds will be returned to the Vilas Trust at the end of the project period.
  • Project number details and expenditure questions should be directed to email vilasawards@rsp.wisc.edu or the RSP Accountant John Ackah at 608-263-7057.
  • As of September 2017, match fund expenses will not be tracked.

Expenditures

  • Faculty can choose to use the funds for his/her summer salary and the amount is limited to 2/9ths of the lowest paid Vilas Research Professor’s salary. This amount is subject to change each fiscal year. See the Vilas Awards Summer Salary Rates page.
  • Faculty summer salary is for July and August pay periods only, no exceptions allowed.
  • Faculty who are paid on an annual basis (12 month) are not eligible for any salary on this award.
  • Fringe benefits will be charged for all personnel paid on the award.
  • Flexible funds may not be used to provide additional salary support for the award winner or other faculty members.
  • Flexible funds may not be used for scholarships, fellowships or to direct charge tuition.
  • Flexible funds may not be used for the purchase of alcohol.
  • Items purchased with flexible funds are subject to the State, University and Department policies/guidelines, and procedures.
  • Expenditures must benefit the recipient’s research activities. Purchasing items for general departmental use or for the sole use of another PI’s research, for example, would not be permitted.
  • A justification of research expenses may be required at times to clarify the benefit to the recipient’s research activities.
Vilas Faculty Mid-Career/Early Career Investigator Award

Overview

  • Award letter is provided by the Provost Office.
  • These awards will not exceed $50,000 per year (or, in the case of awardees who receive a two or three-year award up to $100,000 total) in flexible research funds.
  • RSP will setup a single 133 project for the number of years awarded.
  • The award is set up and administered through the winner’s own department/college.
  • Unspent funds will be returned to the Vilas Trust at the end of the project.
  • Project number details and expenditure questions should be directed to email vilasawards@rsp.wisc.edu or the RSP Accountant John Ackah at 608-263-7057.

Expenditures

  • Faculty can choose to use the funds for his/her summer salary only and the amount is limited to 2/9ths of the lowest paid Vilas Research Professor’s salary. This amount is subject to change each fiscal year. See the Vilas Awards Summer Salary Rates page.
  • Faculty summer salary is for July and August pay periods only, no exceptions allowed.
  • Faculty who are paid on an annual basis (12 month) are not eligible for any salary on this award.
  • Fringe benefits will be charged for all personnel paid on the award.
  • Flexible funds may not be used to provide additional salary support for the award winner or other faculty members.
  • Flexible funds may not be used for scholarships, fellowships or to direct charge tuition.
  • Flexible funds may not be used for the purchase of alcohol.
  • Items purchased with flexible funds are subject to the State, University and Department policies/guidelines, and procedures.
  • Expenditures must benefit the recipient’s research activities. Purchasing items for general departmental use or for the sole use of another PI’s research, for example, would not be permitted.
  • A justification of research expenses may be required at times to clarify the benefit to the recipient’s research activities.
Vilas Research Investigator Award

Overview

  • Award letter is provided by the Provost’s Office.
  • A fund 133 project will be created and is assigned by Research and Sponsored Programs.
  • The award covers one fiscal year; the period for which the grant is awarded is not negotiable.
  • Vilas provides $30,000 for hiring a Research Assistant (RA) or Project Assistant (PA) only.
  • The award is set up and administered through the recipient’s own department/college.
  • Unspent funds will be returned to the Vilas Trust at the end of the project.
  • Project number details and expenditure questions should be directed to email vilasawards@rsp.wisc.edu or the NonFederal Team Manager Don Rauls at 608-262-5469 or don.rauls@rsp.wisc.edu.

Expenditures

  • Funds may only be used to hire an RA or PA. The associated fringe benefit and tuition remission charges will also be paid from this fund.
Vilas Life Cycle Award

Overview

  • Please visit the main Vilas Life Cycle Professorship webpage for complete instructions on applying for this award.
  • Award letters are provided by Women in Science & Engineering Leadership Institute (WISELI) and the Office of the Provost.
  • These funds are provided by Vilas to help faculty and non-emeritus permanent PI’s who have had some major life change, for example, a serious illness or complications from pregnancy. This could be for the individual faculty member or a family member of the faculty.
  • These awards are confidential and handled with discretion. The faculty member's name will not appear in WISDM, WISER or SFS.
  • Projects are set up with the faculty member as Dean and RSP as the owning department. The project edits will list the faculty member’s department number to allow for spending.
  • RSP will set up a 133 project for each fiscal year of the award.
  • The award start date can vary; however, the end date is the end of the fiscal year.
  • Carryover to the next fiscal year is unallowable per the terms of the Vilas Trust. There are NO exceptions.
  • Unspent funds will be returned to the Vilas Trust at the end of the project.
  • Project number details and expenditure questions should be directed to email vilasawards@rsp.wisc.edu or the RSP Accountant John Ackah at 608-263-7057.

Expenditures

  • Faculty who are awarded summer salary will have that amount paid in July and/or August of the award year only, no exceptions are allowed.
  • Faculty who are paid on an annual (12 month) basis are not eligible for salary on this award.
  • Faculty summer salary is limited to 2/9ths of the lowest paid Vilas Research Professor’s salary. This amount is subject to change each fiscal year. Summer salary amounts will be provided in the award letter and on the Vilas Awards Main Page.
  • Fringe benefits will be charged for all personnel paid on the award.
  • Funds may only be spent according to the budget. If you need to re-budget, please submit a re-budget request to Jennifer Sheridan at jennifer.sheridan@wisc.edu and vilasawards@rsp.wisc.edu.
Vilas Retirement Award

Overview

  • Vilas provides $2,500 each year to retired Vilas Professors.
  • To qualify for the Vilas retirement award a faculty member has to have served 15 years as a Vilas Professor.
  • Funds are added to award number MSN107185/133D085.  Funds for the retirees are paid out of this fund for as long as they live.  During the month of the faculty members passing a full month pay is issued and payments stop after that month.
  • Project number details and expenditure questions should be directed to email vilasawards@rsp.wisc.edu or the RSP Accountant Ryan Albrecht at 608-263-5102.
Vilas Fellowships and Scholarships Award

Overview

  • A fund 133 project will be created and is assigned by Research and Sponsored Programs.
  • The award covers one fiscal years; the period for which the grant is awarded is not negotiable.
  • Carryover to the next fiscal year and rebudgeting is unallowable per the terms of the Vilas Trust. There are NO exceptions.
  • Unspent funds will be returned to the Vilas Trust at the end of each year
  • Scholarship project is managed through Student Financial Services.  Fellowship project is managed through the OVCR.
  • For Fellowship project number details and expenditure questions should be directed to email vilasawards@rsp.wisc.edu or the RSP Accountant Ryan Albrecht at 608-263-5102 or rjalbrecht@rsp.wisc.edu; For Scholarship project number details and expenditure questions should be directed to email vilasawards@rsp.wisc.edu or the RSP Accountant John Ackah at 608-263-7057.
Vilas Encouragement of Merit and Talent (Music) Award

Overview

  • A fund 133 project will be created and is assigned by Research and Sponsored Programs.
  • The award covers one fiscal year; the period for which the grant is awarded is not negotiable.
  • Carryover to the next fiscal year and rebudgeting is unallowable per the terms of the Vilas Trust. There are NO exceptions.
  • Unspent funds will be returned to the Vilas Trust at the end of each year.

Expenditures

  • The associated fringe benefit charges will be paid from this fund.
  • Project number details and expenditure questions should be directed to email vilasawards@rsp.wisc.edu or the RSP Accountant John Ackah at 608-263-7057.
Vilas Supplemental Research Funds Award

Overview

  • Vilas Professors can request supplement funding from the Vilas Trust for one year.
  • A fund 133 project will be created and is assigned by Research and Sponsored Programs.
  • The award covers one fiscal year; the period for which the grant is awarded is not negotiable.
  • Carryover to the next fiscal year and rebudgeting is unallowable per the terms of the Vilas Trust. There are NO exceptions.
  • Unspent funds will be returned to the Vilas Trust at the end of each year.

Expenditures

  • Flexible funds are used for expenses incurred for Vilas Professor to perform research.
  • The associated fringe benefit charges will be paid from this fund.
  • Funds may not be used to pay faculty salary.
  • Project number details and expenditure questions should be directed to email vilasawards@rsp.wisc.edu or the RSP Accountant Ryan Albrecht at 608-263-5102.
  • Funds may only be spent according to the proposed plan. If you need to update your plan, please contact professorships@provost.wisc.edu.

Other Vilas Information

William Freeman Vilas History

Lawyer, Soldier, Statesman, and Businessman

1840
Born in Vermont
1851
Family settled in Madison, Wisconsin
1858
Graduated from UW-Madison with highest honors (age 18)
1860
Law degree at Albany Law School, Albany, New York; Returned to Madison to practice law
1862
Volunteered for the Union 23rd Wisconsin Infantry under Ulysses S. Grant
1863
Promoted to Major in February, then Lieutenant Colonel in March
1868-1885
UW Law Professor
1875-1878
Reviser of the Statutes of Wisconsin
1881-1885
UW Regent
1884
Chairman of the Democratic National Convention
1885
Elected to Wisconsin State Assembly
1885-1888
Appointed Postmaster General by Present Cleveland
1888-1889
Appointed Secretary of the Interior by President Cleveland
1891-1897
Elected to US Senate
1896-1906
Member of the State Historical Library Building Commission
1898-1905
UW Regent
1898-1908
Focus on business and wealth building
1906-1908
Member of the Wisconsin Capitol Commission
1908
Died, buried at Forest Hill Cemetery in Madison
1961
Vilas Trust released to UW following the death of his daughter
William Freeman Vilas
Common Features of Vilas Awards
  • All Vilas Awards are non-federal sponsored projects (fund 133-).
  • A 133- project will be created by Research and Sponsored Programs for your use.
  • No carryover of funds from one project to another.
  • No rebudgeting allowed.
  • Unspent funds have to be returned to Vilas at the end of the project period.
  • The projects are set up and administered through the recipient’s own department/college.
    • Exception: Vilas Life Cycle Award has RSP as home department with department edits, and Dean as PI.
  • Items purchased with flexible funds are subject to State rules, University and Department policies/guidelines, and procedures.
  • Flexible funds may not be used for scholarships, fellowships or to direct charge tuition.
  • Flexible funds may not be used for the purchase of alcohol.
  • Summer salary is limited to 2/9ths of the lowest paid Vilas Research Professor’s salary, payable in July and August of the award year.
    • Exception: Vilas Research Professorships are exempt from the summer salary restriction
  • Fringe benefits will be charged for all personnel paid on the award.
    • Exception: Vilas Research Professorships are exempt from fringe benefits.
Common Problems with Vilas Awards
  • Vilas Associates summer salary not spent or for the incorrect months.
    • Vilas Associates summer salary is for July or August, not the following June.
    • Vilas Associates summer salary cannot be used during the academic year.
    • A-basis (12 month) faculty do not receive the summer salary funds, only the flex funds.
    • If the summer salary goes unspent, the entire award, including the flex funds, is lost.
  • Overspending of flex funds on Vilas Associate awards, rebudgeting not allowed.
    • Unspent salary funds cannot be reallocated to flex fund category.
    • Transfer of excess expenses to discretionary spending accounts will be required.
  • Vilas Distinguished Achievement Profressorships (VDAP) and Early-/Mid-career not spent. No-cost extensions are not guaranteed.
    • Best Practice: spend down during the award dates.
    • Vilas is reluctant to extend VDAPs beyond the initial 2 years.
    • Extensions to Early-/Mid-career awards are rare.
  • Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professorships (VDAP) exceeding $10,000 PI salary cap.
    • If this overspending is not discovered until the end of the award, it will be difficult to spend the funds that remain after the excess salary is transferred off the Vilas award.
  • Research Investigator funds spent on supplies or travel expenses.
    • Limit spending to RA or PA salary, fringe and tuition remission only.
  • Not spending the full amount of the award.
    • Unspent funds are lost. The terms of the Vilas Trust dictate the money be sent back to the sponsor for reinvestment.

Best Practices

  • Spend the award in the allotted time.
  • Pay attention to spending limits on salary and flex funds.
  • Plan ahead and spend down the award with time to spare before the deadline.
  • Check with Research and Sponsored Programs if you have questions about financial matters.
Vilas Timeline
May-June, 2021
RSP Received annual award letter from William F. Vilas Trust; RSP provides funding info to PI and department
July 1, 2021
Award begins; expenditures allocated to project
May 30, 2022
RSP sends first email notification, indicating that award ends in 30 days.
June 30, 2022
RSP sends second email notification, indicating that award has ended.
July 31, 2022
RSP sends third email notification, reminding department to review expenditures for allowability.
August 31, 2022
sends fourth email notification, including in it the expense review document and a list of unallowable expenditures (if applicable). Department has until October 15 to complete the necessary cost transfers.
September 30, 2022
If cost transfers have not been submitted, RSP sends a follow-up note to the department (cc Dean’s Office), reminding them that the deadline to submit transfers is Oct. 15. If not submitted by then, suspense transfers.
October 15, 2022
Deadline to submit transfers
October 31, 2022
Research begins on summer salary rates for next fiscal year
December 31, 2022
RSP submits final invoices and reports to William F. Vilas Trust
January 30, 2023
Summer salary rates for upcoming fiscal year are verified and posted to RSP Vilas webpage
February 1, 2023
RSP begins project closeout
Vilas Contacts
Financial and Award Management

RSP Post-Award Accountants for Vilas Awards

RSP Vilas Awards Email
vilasawards@rsp.wisc.edu

John Ackah
608-263-7057

Ryan Albrecht
608-263-5102

RSP Managing Officer overseeing Vilas Awards

Don Rauls
don.rauls@rsp.wisc.edu
608-262-5469

Appointment Information

Provost's Office

Eden Inoway-Ronnie
eden.inowayronnie@wisc.edu
608-265-5975
Christy Lowney
professorships@provost.wisc.edu
608-262-1304
Laurie Leininger
laurie.leininger@wisc.edu
608-262-0767

OVCR (Vilas Associates Only)

Russell Schwalbe
russell.schwalbe@wisc.edu
608-262-8386

WISELI (Vilas Life Cycle Only)

Jennifer Sheridan
jennifer.Sheridan@wisc.edu
608-263-1445