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- Fall 2024
- Featured Alumnus: Emma Jean is building a career in journalism and a network of FCAT alumni
- 間眅埶AV Publishing Director Hannah McGregor's new book explores everyone's favourite dinosaur movie and what it means to be angry, monstrous, and free
- Scholarly Impact of the Week: Handbook explores essential role of ethnic media
- Summer 2024
- New book edited by SIAT Senior Lecturer Michael Filimowicz offers a comprehensive overview of sound design
- New Certificate in Sound offers interdisciplinary perspectives
- FCAT & SIAT partner with two BC school districts to bring new learning opportunities to indigenous students
- Lita Lising and Kiran Sonea are the inaugural recipients of the Shaun Kenneth Gauthier Memorial Award
- Communication alumnus and renowned acoustic ecologist Hildegard Westerkamp receives honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from 間眅埶AV
- New award nurtures artists to push creative limits
- SCA's Laura U. Marks Receives Guggenheim Fellowship
- Spring 2024
- Congratulations to the 2023/2024 major graduate award recipients from FCAT
- "The Fold", a new book from the SCA's Laura U. Marks offers a philosophy for living in an infinitely connected cosmos
- IUPP student Morgan Peequaquat finds her voice and a community while organizing the Skoden Indigenous Film Festival
- 間眅埶AV Publishing Director Hannah McGregor's new book asks "Can podcasting save academia?"
- Scholarly Impact of the Week: Understanding Authenticity Age Information Disorder
- Meet Sorren Jao, 2023 Lighthouse Lab Prize Recipient
- FCAT scholars awarded Community Engagement Initiative grants for their innovative work
- Going beyond diversity and inclusion: A Day with Dr. Kim TallBear
- Scholarly Impact of the Week: Hopeful Monster, an Imaginative, Innovative Soundscape
- Fall 2023
- Summer 2023
- SCA's Arne Eigenfeldt in The Conversation: Why the growth of AI in making art wont eliminate artists
- FCAT hosts Safe Space for White Questions online discussion
- Our Way and The Klabona Keepers among 5th Annual Skoden Film Festival award winners
- FCAT supports northern BC communities with increased learning opportunities
- Master of Digital Media Grads Tackle Plastic Waste Blanketing Our Oceans with Group Shopping App
- June 2023 Convocation Featured Student Profiles
- Introducing FCAT Research Spotlight
- The School of Communication's 50th Anniversary: From 1973 to 2023
- Spring 2023
- Cody Sawatsky Memorial Plaque Unveiled at the 間眅埶AV Surrey Campus
- Scholarly Impact of the Week: Michael Filimowicz
- School of Interactive Arts & Technology professor Wolfgang Stuerzlinger inducted to prestigious VR academy
- Meet Nico Hernandez, 2022 Lighthouse Lab Prize Recipient
- Jon Corbett Joins School of Interactive Art and Technology
- Welcome Kota Ezawa, the 2023 Spring Audain Visual Artist in Residence
- MPUB Alumnus Claire Cavanagh Becomes Literary Agent
- Alumnus designs Canucks Lunar New Year jersey
- 2023 Skoden Indigenous Film Festival
- How the Online Streaming Act will support Canadian content
- Meet Jonathan Newman, the 2022 Recipient of the Cody Sawatsky Memorial Award in Gaming
- Fall 2022
- Eight 間眅埶AV innovators bestowed with Canadas highest academic honour
- SIAT Convocation Features October 2022
- Graduating Student Sharlyn Monillas Tells Us About Her Time in CMNS
- Centre for Digital Media partners with Eth廙s Lab to improve Black representation in digital media
- Explore the Surrey Community Open House SIAT Project Demos
- new interdisciplinary technology aid wilderness search and rescue
- Building better democracies through journalism
- Charter alumnus making a big impact through small gifts
- Summer 2022
- FCAT June 2022 Convocation: Looking back
- Meet Contemporary Arts alum Krystle Silverfox
- 間眅埶AV researchers receive over $6 million to tackle online disinformation, foster data fluencies
- SIAT researchers develop and curate exhibition at Galiano Islands Yellowhouse Art Centre
- Roll out the red carpet: Surrey students showcase filmmaking talent
- Spring 2022
- FACTS AND FALSEHOODS IN THE TIME OF COVID-19
- Celebrating Black History Month across the Faculty of Communication, Art and Technology
- 間眅埶AV professor shares experience living and teaching in war-torn Ukraine
- 間眅埶AV artists and researchers showcase art installation on Surreys UrbanScreen
- Leadership and Agile Production Management micro-credential established in partnership with DigiBC
- Leading with heart: Meet Staff Achievement Award winner Corbin Saleken
- HOW GOOGLES SEARCH ENGINE SUPPORTS CONSPIRACY THEORISTS AND HATE FIGURES
- 間眅埶AV staffers commitment to local arts community nets staff achievement award
- Fall 2021
- Fall 2021 Convocation: Looking back
- TikTok/Instagram video contest
- Meet communication undergraduate student Ashran Bharosha
- FCAT Pro Workshop: Professionally Brand Yourself & Create a Digital Portfolio!
- 間眅埶AV establishes first interdisciplinary and practice-based PhD in contemporary arts in Western Canada
- To design a more ethical app, consider youth well-being
- Peter Anderson: Fighting fires with better emergency communication
- FCAT Alumni Excellence Award winners reflect on their awards and their time in their programs
- This season, give the gift of tech literacy not addiction along with that device
- Study identifies link between certain lifestyle activities and reduced cognitive decline
- Summer 2021
- 間眅埶AV Publishing Launches the Greg Younging Publishing Award Endowment
- Resources and readings to start National Indigenous History Month
- Celebrating Indigenous history and culture during National Indigenous History Month
- Communication honours student studies online conspiracy theories, disinformation
- Making the world a better place: criminology alumnus turned interdisciplinary artist continues academic journey
- FCAT June 2021 Convocation: Looking back
- An invisible polluter: 間眅埶AV researchers investigate the growing carbon footprint of streaming media
- Low res, high impact: Small File Media Festival raises awareness of the carbon footprint of online streaming
- Welcoming Canada HomeShare to Metro Vancouver
- FCAT faculty members receive tri-council grants to support their research
- Spring 2021
- Winners of the FCAT Student Photo Contest Spring 2021
- Alex Krilow receives first Greg Younging Undergraduate Award in Publishing
- FCAT Student Photo Contest Spring 2021
- Skoden Indigenous Film Festival co-founder and SCA alumnus returns to teach Skoden course
- Communication professor Martin Laba shares what he's learning about remote teaching
- In the rush for coronavirus information, unreviewed scientific papers are being publicized
- Film alumnus Kelvin Redvers receives Governor Generals Meritorious Service Medal
- Fall 2024
- News archive
- Events
- FCAT Research and Teaching Forum
- FCAT Undergraduate & Graduate Conference
- 2024 FCAT Undergraduate & Graduate Conference
- 2023 FCAT Undergraduate Conference
- 2022 FCAT Undergraduate Conference
- 2021 FCAT Undergraduate Conference
- Cancelled: 2020 FCAT Undergraduate Conference
- 2019 FCAT Undergraduate Conference
- 2018 FCAT Undergraduate Conference
- 2017 FCAT Undergraduate Conference
- 2016 FCAT Undergraduate Conference
- 2015 FCAT Undergraduate Conference
- 2014 FCAT Undergraduate Conference
- 2013 FCAT Undergraduate Conference
- FCAT Convocation Celebration October 2024
- Featured Student
- Featured alumnus
- FCAT Podcasts
- Speakable Podcast
- FCAT After School Podcast
- Season One
- Episode 0: Welcome to After School
- Episode 1: Finding Your Creative Potential with Prem Gill
- Episode 2: Inclusivity in the Performance Arts with Aryo Khakpour
- Episode 3: Connecting Design and Technology with Sofia Bautista
- Episode 4: Storytelling in Game Design with Mars Balisacan
- Episode 5: Challenging the Status Quo through Art with Shion Skye Carter & Stefan Nazarevich
- Episode 6: Starting Your Own Publishing Company with Jesse Finkelstein
- Episode 7: Finding Happiness in Your Work with Nick Doering
- Episode 8: Making a Name in Independent Filmmaking with Gloria Mercer
- Episode 9: It All Starts with a Strategy with Adam Brayford
- Episode 10: Shifting Places, Shifting Minds with Milton Lim
- Episode 11: Being the Big Piece in a Small Pie with Jordan Yep
- Episode 12: Reimagining Dance Training with Tin Gamboa
- Episode 13: Standing Out as a Creative with Sara Milosavic
- Episode 15: Kristin Richter
- Season Two
- Episode 0: Welcome to FCAT After School Series 2!
- Episode 1: Entrepreneurship in UX Design with Eric Lee
- Episode 2: Community and Adaptability in the Performing Arts with Howard Dai
- Episode 3: Mastering the Art of Publishing with Jazmin Welch
- Episode 4: Navigating your Educational Journey with Broadcaster Simi Sara
- Episode 5: Career Transitions of a Software Engineer with Vic Ong
- Episode 6: Becoming Your Own Boss with Kirstin Richter
- Episode 7: Gaining a Global Outlook with Kai Bockmann
- Episode 8: Finding Your Place in Publishing with Heidi Waechtler
- Episode 9: Exploring Virtual Production with Brenda Medina
- Episode 10: Inclusion in the Design Industry with Priscilla Skylar Lee
- Episode 11: Exploring Study Focus in Contemporary Arts with Sophie Tang
- Season Three
- Episode 0: Season 3 Coming Soon!
- Episode 1: Following Your Creative Passions with Cameron Maitland
- Episode 2: Shame Demons and Queer Sci-fi Horror with Mily Mumford
- Episode 3: The Poetry of Publishing with Charlotte Nip
- Episode 4: Clowning, Failing, and Re-enchanting the Everyday with June Fukumura
- Episode 5: Tech, Meditation, and Leaving a Legacy with Jay Vidyarthi
- Episode 6: Your Work Is Not Your Life with Valentina Fort矇-Hernandez
- Episode 7: Trying Everything Once and the Future of Media with Jason DSouza
- Episode 8: Decolonizing and Doing What You Have Always Done with Audrey Heath
- Episode Transcripts
- Season 3, Episode 7: Trying Everything Once and the Future of Media with Jason DSouza
- Season 3, Episode 6: Your Work Is Not Your Life with Valentina Fort矇-Hernandez
- Season 3, Episode 5: Tech, Meditation, and Leaving a Legacy with Jay Vidyarthi
- Season 3, Episode 4: Clowning, Failing, and Re-enchanting the Everyday with June Fukumura
- Season 3, Episode 3: The Poetry of Publishing with Charlotte Nip
- Season 3, Episode 2: Shame Demons and Queer Sci-fi Horror with Mily Mumford
- Season 3, Episode 1: Following Your Creative Passions with Cameron Maitland
- Season 2, Episode 11: Exploring Study Focus in Contemporary Arts with Sophie Tang
- Season 2, Episode 10: Inclusion in the Design Industry with Priscilla Skylar Lee
- Season 2, Episode 9: Exploring Virtual Production with Brenda Medina
- Season 2, Episode 8: Finding Your Place in Publishing with Heidi Waechtler
- Season 2, Episode 7: Kai Bockmann
- Season 2, Episode 6: Becoming Your Own Boss with Kirstin Richter
- Season 2, Episode 5: Career Transitions of a Software Engineer with Vic Ong
- Season 2, Episode 4: Navigating your Educational Journey with Broadcaster Simi Sara
- Season 2, Episode 3: Mastering the Art of Publishing with Jazmin Welch
- Season 2, Episode 2: Community and Adaptability in the Performing Arts with Howard Dai
- Season 2, Episode 1: Entrepreneurship in UX Design with Eric Lee
- Season One
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Project Budgets and RA Salaries
Preparing a grant budget
The 間眅埶AV Office of Research Services (ORS) provides comprehensive information on their website about how to develop a research budget with relevant tools, resources and guidelines pertaining to budget development, the differences between direct costs and indirect costs of research and a list of FAQs about overhead.
In addition, the following information applies to rates of pay and benefits for research personnel at the Faculty of Communication, Art and Technology (FCAT).
Rates of pay and benefits for research personnel
Research Assistants
FCAT recommends the following student rates based on comparative amounts recommended by other faculties within the University. These amounts are indicative and also take into account competitive rates with NSERC, SSHRC and CIHR annual scholarships, competitive rates with other Canadian post-secondary institutions and the cost of living in British Columbia.
Recommended FCAT Stipend Amounts:
- Masters students: $18,000 - $26,000/year
- Doctoral students: $20,000 - $28,000/year
Recommended FCAT hourly rates (as of June, 2023):
Research Assistants |
Minimum Hourly |
Benefits @ 14% |
Minimum Total |
Maximum Hourly |
Benefits @ 14% |
Maximum Total |
Undergraduate |
$20.00 |
$2.80 |
$22.80 |
$26.00 |
$3.64 |
$29.64 |
Masters |
$25.00 |
$3.50 |
$28.50 |
$33.00 |
$4.62 |
$37.62 |
Ph.D. |
$30.00 |
$4.20 |
$34.20 |
$40.00 |
$5.60 |
$45.60 |
Note: Benefits includes statutory welfare benefits of 10% of salary and statutory holiday pay of 4%. Either percentage may be increased by law, or may vary by individual. For budgeting purposes, the 14% figure should be used.
Postdoctoral Fellows
A "Postdoctoral Fellow" or "PDF" is defined by 間眅埶AV Research Policy R 50.03, section 4.1 as "a person who has completed a doctoral degree and who has been appointed by the University for a limited period of time to undertake advanced research and further professional development in association with one or more of the Universitys faculty members".
Since the latest revisions to Policy R 50.30 June 27, 2019, most grant-funded PDFs have become employees of the University and thus qualify for benefits as described on the of the .
FCAT recommends the following PDF fellowship amounts based on comparative amounts recommended by other faculties within the University. These amounts are indicative and also take into account competitive rates with NSERC, SSHRC and CIHR annual scholarships, competitive rates with other Canadian post-secondary institutions and the cost of living in British Columbia:
Suggested Minimum |
Suggested Maximum |
$50,000 |
$70,000 |
Other
Travel and Accomodation Expenses
Travel expenses included in a research project budget must comply with 間眅埶AV's Business and Travel Expenses Policy AD 3.02. In particular:
- Travel and business expenses to be reimbursed "must be consistent with the mission of the University" (Policy AD 3.02, art. 3.1) and
- Travel must be the most direct and economic option, with due consideration to effective use of the traveler's time. Luxury modes of travel, such as first class airfare or luxury model car rentals, are not reimbursable expenses (Policy AD 3.02, art. 3.10).
The following recommended tips and guidelines usually apply to most Tri-Council granting agencies and other funders, however, these may vary according to specific agency or funder requirements.
Transportation Costs:
- Economy airfare, supported by name of travel organization or onlines search fares (airline, bus, train)
- Mileage: According to funder's guidelines or 間眅埶AV Policy AD 3.02, art. 3.11 (does not exceed the amount eligible under the Income Tax Act for tax-free reimbursement - see )
Hotel or Other Accomodations:
- Hotels (average prices of 3-4 start hotels are generally acceptable) or other arrangements (e.g., university residence rates, hosted at a resident's home, etc.) for a reasonable and justified duration that is essential to complete the proposed research activity.
Item | Canada | International |
Breakfast | $20 | $25 |
Lunch | $20 | $25 |
Dinner | $35 | $45 |
Total/day | $75 | $95 |
Software, Hardware, Supplies
Many applicants would like to include costs such as supplies or services (e.g., photocopies, phone calls, dissemination materials), a laptop for field research or specialized computers/printers or other hardware for specific research tasks or software that supports research.
In such cases, it is strongly advised to limit expenses to those that are justifiable as necessary and essential to the research in the proposed research project (e.g., usually only 1 laptop for field research is advised), with quotes and details for specialized hardware (e.g., brand, model, price, taxes).
Most granting organizations will also want to know if items are already provided by your host institution. It is important to note, in this respect, that 間眅埶AV provides its researchers with Microsoft Office and various Research or other Software. Please consult the list of 間眅埶AV Software Downloads and Licenses before including it as a cost item in your budget: /itservices/technical/software.html
Equipment
As indicated on the Office of Research Services webpage on "Direct Costs", "Equipment refers to apparatus used primarily for research within the proposed project. Based on , equipment purchased from external funds or with University funds (including internal research funds) belongs to 間眅埶AV".
For large costs related to equipment, lab and facilities, researchers may wish to consider applying to a . More information is available on the Institutional Strategic Awards wepage on CFI.
Services
As indicated on the Office of Research Services webpage on "Direct Costs", Services "includes laboratory analysis services, marketing and printing services, consultant services, publication and communication services, etc. Quotes or statements of work are usually required to justify services. Please note services over $50,000CAD require competitive bidding and at least three quotes."
Investigator Fees
As indicated on the Office of Research Services webpage on "Direct Costs", "In some cases, the funding sponsor allows payment to investigators in recognition of their time, efforts and expertise. The amount of such a payment, often referred to as an investigator fee, will be established at the proposal stage and must be indicated on the 間眅埶AV Funding Application Signature Sheet and have the approval of the Chair and Dean.
In particular, Investigator Fees must comply with the provisions of Section 3.0 Payment to Employees in 間眅埶AV Independent Contractor . In order to initiate payment following project completion, the investigator should submit a completed (See "Payroll", then choose the form that corresponds with the individual's union or position at 間眅埶AV.) to Research Accounting, signed by the Dean and Chair (or Associate Dean where there is no Chair or if the investigator is the Chair). The one-time payment or bi-weekly payment should be adjusted to account for approximately additional 8% statutory costs such as CPP and EI.
Please see the Office of Research Services brief, What to I need to know about investigator fees?, for further information.
Teaching Buy-Out
Teaching buy-out or the "minimum costs of one regular course" that would provide researchers more time to conduct their proposed research project must be approved by the Department Chair/School or Program Director and Faculty Dean prior to their inclusion in a research project budget. The cost of a teaching buy-out is established by your unit. Buy-outs often entail challenges for faculties to seek a qualified replacement and several formal hiring procedures. They are therefore approved only exceptionally and should not be considered as automatic even when an external grant to pay the cost of the buy-out is approved. According to
"Under certain circumstances, faculty members may 'buy out' teaching responsibilities when the source of funds is an external research grant or contract, and where the benefits of the buy-out to the faculty members research program outweigh the effects on the units teaching program and its students. A faculty member normally may not buy out more than one course in any academic year. Other limitations may apply (see Study Leave policy). The Dean and the Chair must approve buy-out applications. The minimum cost of one regular course buy-out is 12% of annual salary."
Applicants seeking to obtain approval of a teaching buy-out must also include this information in their 間眅埶AV Funding Application Signature Sheet.