Each subcommittee is composed of at least two Research Board members. The subcommittee members determine which peer reviewers are used. Reviewers are chosen from the Research Board's database of potential reviewers, recommendations given on the application form, and faculty members the subcommittee members know to have expertise in the subject. Three peer reviews are sought. Reviewers are sent a copy of the complete proposal and a copy of the Research Board's criteria for evaluation of projects.
Reviewers then return their confidential recommendations to the subcommittee.
The subcommittee makes a recommendation to the full board based on the peer reviewers' comments and their own judgment. After consideration of the recommendation and discussion by the board, a final decision is made. The board's decisions are communicated by letter to the applicant within a few days after the allocation session. When funding is granted, a copy of the award letter is sent to the relevant department head and business manager. Normally, the board does not provide a written critique of an applicant's proposal, although it may forward relevant portions of the reviewers' comments if they are particularly helpful or informative.