Rebecca,

I wanted to weigh into this little conversation.  I agree that the
intangible abilities are really the most important ones.  I agree that a
Ph.D. or Master's degree does not replace these and cannot.  While I have a
Ph.D., I feel it is only one component of my qualifications.  I agree that
an advanced degree is not a necessary or sufficient factor in determining
qualifications for an assistant director.   I have staff who have a great
deal of experience in the job.  I wouldn't trade their experience with an
advanced degree.

On the other hand, having a Ph.D. did help me  attain some respect among my
faculty colleagues.  Some of that respect has lead to some very useful
discussions regarding research administration policies and procedures.  I
agree that having toiled in the world of research helps me gain some
respect.  The bottom line is this, the Ph.D. is not useless.  It can come
in very handy in an assistant director position.  However, it isn't a
necessary or sufficient qualification and it doesn't replace other
qualities.  It is one of many useful qualities.

My advice is not to paint yourself into a corner on this one.  You want to
interview the best people you can.

>Dear Resadm-l-ers:
>
>Could anyone please enlighten me as to what qualifications you would seek for
>an Assistant Director position? Work involves supervising others, assisting
>faculty to develop proposals, including interpreting guidelines, setting up
>and monitoring accounts & expenditures, advising on compliance issues: whole
>gamut of pre and post. I'm thinking of the following statement:
>
>"Bachelor's degree or at least 5 years of experience in a similar position in
>sponsored research administration required"
>
>What do others think? Is the degree absolutely necessary if the experience is
>there? Thanks in advance for you input.
>RJS
>Rebecca Sutcliffe
>Acting Director, Division of Research
>Clarkson University
>
>------------------------------
>
>Date:    Tue, 8 Apr 2003 16:21:02 -0400
>From:    Susan Burke <xxxxxx@GWU.EDU>
>Subject: Re: qualifications for research admin
>
>rebecca-
>yes, the degree is absolutely necessary in an academic environment, and, even
>though the position is assistant director, i'd put the minimum at a master's.
>furthermore, i'd want to see 8-10 years experience in steadily more
>responsible
>research admin positions, with supervisory experience as well as experience in
>the specific areas for which this person will have responsibilties.
>susan
>
>--
>Susan B. Burke
>Information Specialist
>Office of Research Services
>The George Washington University
>2121 I Street NW, Suite 601
>Washington, DC 20052
>Telephone: 202-994-9136
>Facsimile: 202-994-9137
>
>
>======================================================================
>  Instructions on how to use the RESADM-L Mailing List, including
>  subscription information and a web-searchable archive, are available
>  via our web site at http://www.hrinet.org (click on "Listserv Lists")
>======================================================================
>
>
>Date:    Tue, 8 Apr 2003 16:58:03 -0400
>From:    Charlie Hathaway <xxxxxx@AECOM.YU.EDU>
>Subject: Re: qualifications for research admin
>
>I disagree.  Aren't most faculty members interested in good service above
>all else?  I think most people, even in an environment that, on the
>surface, seems defined by academic credentials, look at intelligence,
>credibility, and work ethic above all else. What difference does a degree
>make?  My years spent chopping up fish and rats didn't help me in
>"supervising others, assisting faculty to develop proposals, including
>interpreting guidelines, setting up and monitoring accounts &
>expenditures, advising on compliance issues".
>
>Charlie Hathaway
>
>PHD..piled high and deep
>
>At 04:21 PM 4/8/03 -0400, you wrote:
> >rebecca-
> >yes, the degree is absolutely necessary in an academic environment, and,
> even
> >though the position is assistant director, i'd put the minimum at a
> master's.
> >furthermore, i'd want to see 8-10 years experience in steadily more
> responsible
> >research admin positions, with supervisory experience as well as
> experience in
> >the specific areas for which this person will have responsibilties.
> >susan
> >
> >--
> >Susan B. Burke
> >Information Specialist
> >Office of Research Services
> >The George Washington University
> >2121 I Street NW, Suite 601
> >Washington, DC 20052
> >Telephone: 202-994-9136
> >Facsimile: 202-994-9137
>
>**************************************
>Charles B. Hathaway, Ph.D., Director
>Office of Grant Support
>Albert Einstein College of Medicine
>1300 Morris Park Avenue
>Bronx, NY 10461-1975
>Phone: 718 430-3642     Fax: 718 430-8822
>email: xxxxxx@aecom.yu.edu
>http://www.aecom.yu.edu/ogs
>
>
>Date:    Tue, 8 Apr 2003 16:32:11 -0500
>From:    Mike McCallister <xxxxxx@UALR.EDU>
>Subject: Re: qualifications for research admin
>
>Oh please, go ahead and acknowledge Higher Ed conceit.  if I hadn't
>finished my Ph.D., I'd have never had a shot at my true 3P (Peter
>Principle Potential).  More and more, I think his is driven not by
>researchers but by OUR bosses who want a spiffy stable.  Finally,
>someone who has earned an advanced degree has at least a bit more
>familiarity with the culture in which we toil.  Crazy enough to get
>that degree, crazy enough to work here-- that sort of thing. THEN
>they find out we've got the best jobs on campus.
>
>Spanky
>
> >\I disagree.  Aren't most faculty members interested in good service
> >above all else?  I think most people, even in an environment that,
> >on the surface, seems defined by academic credentials, look at
> >intelligence, credibility, and work ethic above all else. What
> >difference does a degree make?  My years spent chopping up fish and
> >rats didn't help me in "supervising others, assisting faculty to
> >develop proposals, including interpreting guidelines, setting up and
> >monitoring accounts & expenditures, advising on compliance issues".
> >
> >Charlie Hathaway
> >
> >PHD..piled high and deep
> >
> >At 04:21 PM 4/8/03 -0400, you wrote:
> >>rebecca-
> >>yes, the degree is absolutely necessary in an academic environment,
> and, even
> >>though the position is assistant director, i'd put the minimum at a
> master's.
> >>furthermore, i'd want to see 8-10 years experience in steadily more
> >>responsible
> >>research admin positions, with supervisory experience as well as
> >>experience in
> >>the specific areas for which this person will have responsibilties.
> >>susan
> >>
> >>--
> >>Susan B. Burke
> >>Information Specialist
> >>Office of Research Services
> >>The George Washington University
> >>2121 I Street NW, Suite 601
> >>Washington, DC 20052
> >>Telephone: 202-994-9136
> >>Facsimile: 202-994-9137
> >
> >**************************************
> >Charles B. Hathaway, Ph.D., Director
> >Office of Grant Support
> >Albert Einstein College of Medicine
> >1300 Morris Park Avenue
> >Bronx, NY 10461-1975
> >Phone: 718 430-3642     Fax: 718 430-8822
> >email: xxxxxx@aecom.yu.edu
> >http://www.aecom.yu.edu/ogs
> >
> >
> >======================================================================
> >  Instructions on how to use the RESADM-L Mailing List, including
> >  subscription information and a web-searchable archive, are available
> >  via our web site at http://www.hrinet.org (click on "Listserv Lists")
> >======================================================================
>
>
>--
>Mike McCallister, Ph. D.
>   Director, Research and Sponsored Programs
>University of Arkansas at Little Rock
>2801 South University
>Little Rock, AR 72204-1099
>(v) 501-569-8474
>(f) 501-371-7614
>(c) 501-590-5609
>
>
>Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far one
>can go. — T.S. Eliot
>

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