My office has observed in the last couple of years a large increase of
little things to do thrust upon us.  Just-in-time proposal data.  Letters
of approval.  Reports of compliance measures.  Little things that take just
2 - 5 minutes -- of each of three people's time; receptionist, research
administrator, signing authority.  Just little things -- many times a
day.  It adds up to a significant increase in the office work load per
major transaction.

For example, we used to review a proposal, sign everything, and then not
see it until the award came.  Now we review the proposal; we spend extra
time with it because it has to be submitted electronically (by a different
method for each sponsor); we receive requests for JIT information; we
forward that to the PI to collect the data; we receive it back from the PI;
we sign/certify, etc.; we fax it back to the sponsor; and finally an award
comes.

Are other sponsored program offices experiencing the same increase in
required administrative activity required by the sponsors?  Has anyone
measured it?  Do you have anecdotal reports?

If you have some data, please respond on the list or privately.  Identify
"hard" data and "experienced observation" separately, please.  Experienced
observation is very useful, but we must separate the two.  If you can
identify a specific cause for some of it, please do.  (For example, 106-107
is forcing all these different electronic proposal mechanisms -- it's not
electronic that really gets to us, but that they are all different!)  I'll
compile responses in about a week and share.

Chuck
Herbert B. Chermside, CRA
Director, Sponsored Programs Administration
Virginia Commonwealth University
PO BOX 980568
Richmond, VA  23298-0568
Express Delivery Only:
 Biotech One, Suite 113
 Virginia Biotechnology Research Park
 800 East Leigh Street
 Richmond, VA 23219
Voice:  804-828-6772
Fax     804-828-2521
OFFICE e-mail   xxxxxx@VCU.EDU
Personal e-mail xxxxxx@vcu.edu
http://www.research.vcu.edu/ospa.htm

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