Re: Question about where a particular function should be located Vicky Jensen 23 Mar 2007 08:28 EST

Hi Dawn,

I'm the Interim Director of our Pre-award office, and we do not assume this
responsibility.  When the PI has to complete a Progress Report or Annual
Report on the program's activities, sometimes agencies want to have the
AOR's signature verifying that the info is accurate.  Since there's no way
for our Provost (or anyone in our office for that matter) to know, we have
the PI sign a brief memo, stating that all the information in the Progress
Report is true and accurate to the best of his/her knowledge, and that the
PI is responsible for keeping detailed records that back up the report
summary, in case of audit.  Then our AOR is comfortable signing off on the
Progress Report.

Best wishes,

Victoria Jensen
Interim Director
Office of Research and Sponsored Programs
California State University, East Bay

On 3/23/07 5:27 AM, "Donna Berger" <xxxxxx@MARIST.EDU> wrote:

> Dawn,
>
> Maybe I'm missing something, but I do not see how a pre-award office could
> possibly do this unless the office is linked to the postaward and there is
> some reason for the PI to work with this person. We are a pre-award office
> and once an award is made, we have little knowledge of program progress and
> do not see the PI until s/he is working on a new proposal. After an award
> is made, the PIs work solely with our post award office on effort
> reporting, etc.  Because post award monitors the budget expenditures, they
> have the wherewithal to point out issues as they arise and the PIs have
> good reason to connect with this office.  Personally, I think placing this
> responsibility in a pre-award office would be a set up for failure, unless
> their is a restructuring that links the office to post award so that as
> issues arise they be dealt with cooperatively between the two offices. In
> fact, anyone given this responsibility would need to be connected to one or
> both of these offices I would assume and the PIs would need have reason to
> interact with that person. At our institution, the deans (on paper) are
> responsible for overseeing programmatic outcomes. How well this works would
> be another discussion!
>
> Donna Berger, Ph.D.
> Coordinator, Academic Grants
> Marist College
> Phone: 845-575-3670
>
>
>
>              Dawn Underwood
>              <xxxxxx@ISUGW
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>              List
>              <xxxxxx@hrinet.                                     Subject
>              org>                      [RESADM-L] Question about where a
>                                        particular function should be
>                                        located
>              03/21/2007 12:16
>              PM
>
>
>              Please respond to
>                  Research
>               Administration
>               Discussion List
>              <xxxxxx@hrinet.
>                    org>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Your responses to the following questions are much appreciated, and
> needed as soon as possible.
>
> Our university is considering a new role/position that would be
> responsible for working with PIs to ensure that they are completing all
> the required documentation (other than budgetary) and programmatic goals
> required of grant funded projects.  For example, the position would
> check files for complete and accurate documentation on program
> participants, as well as keeping up on whether the appropriate number of
> participants are being served.  If your institution has such a position,
> in what office are they located and to whom do they report?  Those of
> you without this position, where would you think the position should be
> located and to whom they should report (ie: pre-award office, post-award
> office, internal auditing office, other)?  Please explain why you feel
> that this position should be located in the office you state.  Our
> institution does not have a separate compliance office at this time.
>
> To give you a bit of background, it has been suggested that this
> responsibility be housed in the pre-award office, and that no new
> personnel be hired. This would significantly affect the number of
> workshops given and the level of support provided to faculty and staff
> grantwriters. I'm hoping to learn perspectives on what is in the best
> interest of the institution. Thus, I am keenly interested in learning
> what other research administrators think about where this responsibility
> should lie.
>
> Thank you for your help.
> Dawn
>
>
>
>
>
> Dawn Underwood
> Director
> Sponsored Programs
> College of Education, Room 120
> Indiana State University
> Terre Haute, Indiana
> Phone: 812-237-3088
> Fax: 812-237-3092
>
>
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