Resources

Research Administration Support and Transition Plan

Developed as an initial work plan to maintain operational continuity and support staff during an organizational transition, in advance of a formal, comprehensive review by an external audit agency.

1. Document Current Activities, Roles, and Responsibilities

   Engaging with staff across departments to understand how common tasks are performed and how responsibilities are distributed.

2. Develop a Post-Award Policy and Procedures Manual

   Compile existing institutional and Uniform Guidance post-award related policies into a centralized reference manual.

3. Create Practical How-To and Reference Guides: Developing step-by-step reference materials for common tasks like financial monitoring, cost transfers, reporting timelines, and award closeout.

4. Establish Baseline Post-Award Operational Metrics: Assembling baseline data—including active awards, staff effort, transaction types, and approximate volume—to provide operational context for the upcoming formal review.

Institutional Blueprint: Internal Research Seed Grant Program

An institutional framework designed to stimulate external funding portfolios through the creation, structuring, and administration of a centralized internal research support program.

1. Program Architecture & Objectives: Defining the core mission, funding criteria, eligibility standards, and target timelines to incentivize interdisciplinary research and maximize external proposal pipelines.

2. Governance & Review Mechanics: Establishing localized proposal guidelines, strict budgetary constraint rules (such as non-allowable salary/equipment metrics), and multi-disciplinary peer-review evaluation standards.

3. Compliance & Institutional Risk Mitigation: Integrating rigorous verification checkpoints, including alignment with Institutional Review Board (IRB) human subject regulations, current/pending support audits, and historical funding accountability tracking.