3Cavaliers 3.1: A Simpler Approach to Supporting Collaborative Research

Supporting research!

UVA's Office of the Vice President for Research, in collaboration with UVAFinance, is introducing a simpler, more streamlined approach to manage the funding of its 3 Cavaliers (3C) program.  This approach, dubbed "3Cavaliers 3.1," will allow the seed-funding program to continue its mission of promoting high-risk, early-stage research between three UVA faculty members from at least two disparate disciplines, only with less administrative complexity.

With the launch of 3Cavaliers 3.1, UVA researchers, administrators, and finance professionals, will find it easier to manage these projects, as the updated model reduces operational friction and makes it easier to manage projects from award setup through closeout.

What's changed?

Since 2018, the 3Cavaliers (3C) program under UVA's Office of the Vice President for Research has  supported interdisciplinary research by bringing together faculty from across schools and disciplines to pursue innovative ideas and strengthen proposals for external funding. 

The updated 3Cavaliers 3.1 funding model simplifies how collaborative research awards are managed. Rather than coordinating multiple funding sources across participating schools and units, projects are managed within a single award structure in Workday, making financial administration more streamlined and transparent.

What are the advantages of the new model?

The 3C 3.1 model responds to prior administrative complexity by standardizing management of central funding and school match in Workday Grants.

Benefit	Description
Business Administration	Standardized setup reduces manual effort and troubleshooting.
Better Oversight	Clear separation of central funding and school match improves financial visibility.
Consistent Tracking	Uniform Workday configuration across projects.
Reporting-Ready	Supports institutional and external reporting, including HERD & ABT.

How is funding organized?

Each 3Cavaliers 3.1 seed-funded project includes one Workday Award containing four grants:

• One Central Funding Grant representing the University's central investment. 
• Three Cost Share Grants representing the participating schools' or units' contributions.

This structure then allows project teams to track both central funding and school contributions within one award while maintaining clear financial visibility.

How does the funding model work?

3Cavaliers 3.1 awards are funded through a shared investment model:

• 75% Central Funding provided by OVPR, the President's Office, and the Provost's Office.
• 25% School Match provided by the participating schools or units. 

Project spending should generally follow this 3:1 funding ratio throughout the life of the award, with final spending aligned proportionally at project closeout.

How should project teams monitor spending?

Project teams are encouraged to review spending regularly throughout the project period using available Workday and reporting tools. Periodic monitoring helps ensure spending remains aligned with the approved funding model and minimizes adjustments during project closeout. 

What types of expenses are supported?

Project funds are intended to support research-related activities consistent with the approved project budget and UVA financial policies. Typical allowable expenses include graduate student and postdoctoral support, student wages, research supplies, travel for research activities, and research services. Certain expenses like faculty salary (including course buyouts), teaching or course development activities, subawards outside UVA, administrative or permanent staff, and student programming are not allowed.

Where can I find additional guidance?

Comprehensive resources are available on the Office of the Vice President for Research's  3Cavaliers 3.1 Finance Guidance webpage, including:

• Guidance on the funding model 
• Workday award and grant structure
• Expense charging requirements 
• Spending expectations and proportional funding guidance
• Reporting resources 
• Grant roles and responsibilities

For more general information about important dates and program guidelines, check out OVPR's 3Cavaliers 3.1 page.

For an overview of the 3C 3.1 model with details in Workday Grants, check out the 3C 3.1 Workday Grants - Operating Model slide deck on UVAFinance's website.