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Research Administration Workshops

Workshops are generally offered several times per year. Specific dates are scheduled approximately four weeks in advance. Check the Currently Available Workshops listings [alphabetically by title.]

Introduction to Sponsored Projects Administration

Intended Audience: Faculty and administrators just getting started with externally funded research or have very little experience in sponsored projects ("research") administration. It provide the "a big picture" of the sponsored project enterprise at the UM. Participants will receive an overview of the University offices and departments responsible for Research Administration and their relationship to the unit administrator. Participants will also learn what occurs at different stages in the life cycle of a sponsored project, including procedures for proposal development and submission, filling out the PAF, award acceptance, project initiation and more.

Presented by staff from DRDA and the Financial Operations/Sponsored Programs office, it is offered several times per semester.

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A-21 Expenditure Monitoring on Federally Sponsored Projects

Presented by Financial Operations, Sponsored Programs

This program provides a detailed explanation of how the University applies OMB-Circular A-21 principles to expenditure activity on Federally Sponsored Projects. Participants will gain awareness of how A-21 affects project proposals, post award re-budgeting and the A-21 expenditure review process.

Topics Covered:
OMB Circular A-21
Proposal Preparation Requirements
Project Opening and Budget Establishment
Expense Initiation
Budget Revision
Project Monitoring via SOA, PBSR and Voucher Detail Reports
Annual and Final Expenditure Review

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Cost Accounting Standards Training

Presented by Financial Operations, Sponsored Programs

Designed for all staff assigned fiscal responsibilities at the University of Michigan. You will receive an overview of the federal government's OMB Circular A-21 regulations for Cost Accounting Standards and the policies for compliance at the University of Michigan. The Cost Accounting Standards and the Policy on Indirect Cost Recovery Excluded (ICRX) Expenditures apply to ALL university expenditures.

Topics covered:

  • OMB Circular A-21
  • Chartfields and Class (formerly Subclass)
  • ICRX Expenditures
  • Restricted Expenditures on Federal Projects
  • Salary Appointments and Effort Certification
  • Annual Space Survey
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    Intro to Budgets: Developing Grant Proposal Budgets

    Presented by DRDA, Financial Operations and Unit Administrators

    This program is intended for research administrators and faculty who have responsibility for developing budgets for sponsored projects proposals and is valuable those who have post-award financial responsibilities as well.

    Topics covered in this program are:
    Identifying Direct and Indirect (F&A) Costs
    Cost Sharing
    Different budget considerations by sponsor type
    Steps to follow in developing a budget
    A review of different types of budgets and budget formats

    Participants will also practice by developing a mock budget as part of this class.

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    DRDA and CFR -- Who does what?

    A program explaining the roles of DRDA and Corporate and Foundation Relations, how proposals for sponsored projects to professional foundations and other funding organizations should be processed in the University, and defining "sponsored project" grants versus gift funds. The session will also include a brief presentation of on-line resources for searching for fund-raising opportunities. Internet hook-up will allow faster and easier explanation of resources and ways to locate them. WHO SHOULD ATTEND: Unit development officers, research administrators in the units, and other interested staff.

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    Financial Administration of Federally Sponsored Projects

    Presented by Financial Operations, Sponsored Programs
    An overview of the guidelines and fundamentals of handling Federal Projects within the University -- including the opening of Project/Grants, concepts of cost sharing, indirect costs, cost accounting standards, A-21 monitoring, hardships, cost transfers, statement of activity and project budget report review.

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    Funding Opportunities/ Finding Funding

    This hands-on workshop presents an overview of funding opportunity databases. Areas covered will include differences databases currently available, searching techniques, establishing E-mail alerts, and creating and using individual expertise profiles. Participants will have the opportunity to practice funding searches.

    Intended Audience: Faculty and research administrators who are interested in learning what resources are available for sponsored project funding and learning how to access and search funding databases

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    Industry Sponsored Research: Working with DRDA

    These programs will provide valuable insights about how administrators, working with DRDA can effectively process industry sponsored projects. Elaine Brock, Associate Director of DRDA and head of DRDAs Industry Group, will share her expertise on these subjects:
    MED SCHOOL sessions
    * The different types of interactions UM has with industry, including research agreements, materials transfer and others
    * The contrast in the positions of UM and industry sponsors
    * A wide range of Policies and issues related to industry agreements
    * How to best work with DRDA to process them through the university system
    COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING sessions
    * The different types of interactions UM has with industry, including clinical trials, materials transfer and others
    * A wide range of Policies and issues related to industry agreements
    * How to best work with DRDA to process them through the university system
    General Sessions are also offered that are not medical or engineering specific.

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    NIH 398 Administrative Shell: Putting it Together

    Presented by: Medical School Grant Review & Analysis Office

    The Medical School's Grant Review & Analysis office occasionally offers this program on how to complete the NIH PHS 398 administrative shell. The 2 hour class covers all pages of the administrative shell, common budget items and treatment, the university routing process, as well as common pitfalls in the proposal process.
    Materials provided include summarized guidelines for the PHS 398, examples of a completed 398, and a list of available resources.

    This class is targeted at those who are required, or are interested in, completing the NIH 398 forms. The course will specifically cover traditional R-series awards, but the basic principles can also be applied to K-series, P-series, and other proposals that use the PHS 398. Questions about the course can be sent to msgrants@umich.edu or call the Med School's Grant Review & Analysis office at 3-4272.

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    NIH Training Grants Workshop

    This workshop is designed for administrators of NIH training grants. It focuses primarily on post-award administrative issues including: familliarization with the paperwork; budgeting and spending; trainee qualifications, trainee and administrator responsibilities, stipend levels, handling forms, compensation and supplementing stipends; payment procedures; and trainees' tax and benefits implications.

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    Research Administrators Instructional Network (RAIN)

    Mastery of the processes, procedures, policies, and ethical considerations relevant to the administration of sponsored projects at the University of Michigan. RAIN will provide research administrators with the necessary framework, concepts, tools, knowledge, and networking opportunities to support the research efforts in their departments more efficiently and proactively. It is aimed at the administrator with several years of involvement with sponsored research programs. This course is currently undergoing a revision. Check the web page for the next time it will be offered.

    Demand exceeds space so admission is through a competitive application process. For more information, and application procedures, see: RAIN

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    Research Administrators Network Meeting

    These meetings have been established by DRDA in partnership with unit administrators to support Research Administrators at Michigan. The Network is meant to provide continuing education in the area of research administration and provide opportunities for unit administrators to interact with eachother and leaders in central administration. Typical agendas will include updates on current events in research at UM and the presentation of an educational topic.

    To suggest a topic for a RA Network meeting, please email the DRDA Training Coordinator. See the Staff Listing.

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    Research Proposal Writing Workshop

    Geared toward writing proposals for research grants, this workshop will be an intensive overview of the narrative portion of a proposal from the perspective of the reviewer. Areas covered will include: approaching a sponsor, components of a proposal (including budget), matching the narrative to the sponsor's guidelines, writing style and common errors to avoid. DRDA Project Representatives will join in the discussion of budget-related items. Sample proposals will be reviewed, and there will be plenty of opportunity for questions and answers.

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    To see which workshops are now scheduled or enrolling, check the Currently Available Workshops listings, which are arranged alphabetically by title.

    Reviewed: February 2008

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