In order to “Spend It” when an award arrives, a separate, or restricted, award account must be set up so that the university can report back to the sponsor on how the funds were used.  That account is called a WBS element or, in the old terminology, a fund code.

ORS must always authorize the creation of a restricted award account and request it from the Office of Sponsored Programs. WBS elements will automatically be authorized when a new award is received or, if required by the sponsor, for each consecutive year of a project. Sponsored Programs will notify the principal investigator and department of the WBS element when the account is established.