My Certifications is an automated work list for Principal Investigators in the Effort Reporting System (ERS).
During our first few certification cycles using ERS, Principal Investigators indicated that they wished ERS would show them just the effort reports they need to certify. They didn’t like that their MyProjects list showed them the reports of other PIs when they shouldn’t certify for them. They wanted to look at one list of everyone they need to certify and only those they need to certify.
A new list called MyCertifications was created in 2011 that contains only the reports the PI must review and certify, and it is now their default list. This new list simplifies the process for PIs.
If you are a PI, your MyCertifications list includes anyone paid from an account for which you are the PI, since the PI on the account is generally going to directly supervise the employees paid on that account. MyCertifications also includes your own effort reports, even if you didn’t charge your salary to any of your own projects. This list excludes any other PIs, as well as any other employees who must self-certify based on a defined list of title codes even if those individuals were paid from your account.
Comparison of MyProjects and MyCertifications
|
Criteria |
MyProjects |
MyCertifications |
|
Auto-generated list |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Always accessible to the PI via the Display Saved Search drop-down menu |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Coordinators and others can subscribe to this list on the Manage Searches page |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Shows PI’s own effort reports |
Only if there are charges to an account or fund for which he/she is the PI |
Yes |
|
Shows effort reports for employees paid on the PI’s account (account PI) |
Yes |
Yes, unless the employee is designated as must self-certify |
|
Shows effort reports for employees paid on the PI’s fund/award (fund PI) |
Yes |
Only if the PI is also the account PI |
|
Shows effort reports for other PIs |
Yes |
No, even if paid on the PI’s account |
|
Shows effort reports for other employees who must self-certify |
Yes |
No, even if paid on the PI’s account |
MyCertifications is the default list for all PIs on logging into ERS. Since PIs still need visibility of all the effort reports that affect the compliance of their awards, the MyProjects list is still available as an option in the Display Saved Search drop-down menu in ERS.