Re: CRA - Fact or Urban Legend Andrew M. Parkerson-Gray 05 Dec 2005 15:41 EST
Jennifer, How do you go about having the degree requirement waived? I've always wondered. Anyway, I have my CRA designation, as does my right hand co-worker, and we both did in fact take the exam. Andrew =+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+= Andrew Parkerson-Gray, CRA Director, UAF Office of Sponsored Programs 909 Koyukuk Drive / P.O. Box 757270 West Ridge Research Building, Suite 212F Fairbanks, AK 99775-7270 Phone: (907) 474-1851 Fax: (907) 474-5444 E-mail: xxxxxx@uaf.edu Web: http://www.uaf.edu/osp/ =+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+= Jennifer Shambrook wrote: >I would be interested in hearing answers to Dr. Miller's other questions and comments concerning the credential. > >I've recommended to people that don't have bachelor's degrees, and no plans to obtain them, to get the CRA as a sign that they can set and achieve a professional development goal in lieu of a degree. > >In my own hiring practices, I would count a CRA and 5 years experience as almost equivalent to a Bachelors Degree when comparing candidates. I work in an academic environment, though, and a certification that does not require a degree will always be looked askance upon by the academic investigators we serve. > >Personally, I am generally supportive of CRAs as long as the person took the exam to get it. It's my understanding that in the beginning, one could obtain a CRA based upon longevity in the profession, and renew from attending sessions at SRA or NCURA without taking an exam. Can anyone tell me if this fact or urban legend? > >If it is fact: Has everyone that holds the CRA designation today taken the exam? > >I have an inquiring mind and would like to know. > >-Jennifer > > > >Jennifer Morgan Shambrook, MHA > >Associate Chair for Research Administration >Co-Director Division of Public Psychiatry >Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science >Medical University of South Carolina >67 President Street, Suite 504 >Charleston, South Carolina 29425 > >voice: 843-792-0191 >fax: 843-792-0048 >email: xxxxxx@musc.edu > > > > >>>>xxxxxx@UAF.EDU 12/05/05 02:17PM >>> >>>> >>>> >Hi Pam, the same goes for our announcement I recently posted. The >reasons we put it as a requirement are for the same reasons Bill listed, >and I think they are very good ones. > >Thanks, >Andrew > >Bill Schulze wrote: > > > >>Hi, Pam: >> >>I have a feeling you are referring to our announcement, although I >>believe others do that as well... >> >>You make some good philosophical points, however our motive is more >>practical than philosophical. Including a certification requirement in >>the job description for Senior Research Administrator has allowed us >>to obtain HR approval of a professional position at a competitive >>salary level. >> >>We do not use the CRA as a screening instrument, or we would require >>it up front. I feel many will agree that the CRA is an important >>credential for various reasons, but by no means do I feel it should be >>considered the quintessential measure of knowledge or competency >>within the profession. >> >>We expect our Senior Research Administrators to be experienced and >>highly skilled research administrators. Our evaluations of candidates >>during the interview process are based on their knowledge of the field >>and demonstrated skills, and since the 4 professionals currently in >>our office have over 60 years of combined experience in Research >>Administration, we have little trouble with these assessments. >> >>Bill >> >>PS: If anyone is interested in a good job with great people, please >>apply... We're looking for really good research administrators, and if >>you don't already have the CRA, don't worry about it - we'll give you >>3 years and also pay for it... >> >>**************************************** >>William E. Schulze, EdD >>Director of Sponsored Programs >>University of Nevada, Las Vegas >>Phone (702) 895-1357 >>Fax (702) 895-0986 >>xxxxxx@ccmail.nevada.edu >>**************************************** >> >>Inactive hide details for Pamela Miller <xxxxxx@USFCA.EDU>Pamela >>Miller <xxxxxx@USFCA.EDU> >> >> >> >> >> >> *Pamela Miller <xxxxxx@USFCA.EDU>* >> Sent by: Research Administration List >> <xxxxxx@HRINET.ORG> >> >> 12/05/2005 09:35 AM >> Please respond to Research Administration >> Discussion List >> >> >> >>To: xxxxxx@HRINET.ORG >>cc: >>Subject: [RESADM-L] CRA as a screening instrument >> >> >> >> >>This is something that has been bothering me, and I have decided to >>share my concerns via this forum: I recently noticed a research >>administration position announcement that required that persons >>applying for the job have CRA status or be willing to obtain this >>designation within a few years of employment. In my opinion, requiring >>research administrators obtain a Certified Research Administrator >>(CRA) designation to obtain and maintain employment is very premature. >> >>The exam for the CRA tests an examinee's knowledge of particular body >>of knowledge and indicates that a high enough score on the test along >>with a certain number of years on the job and a bachelor's degree is >>sufficient for the individual to be "certified" as a research or >>grants administrator. The unasked questions in this transaction are: >>Who decides what the fundamental body of knowledge is in research >>administration? The exam may indeed have captured the incredible >>diversity of this ever changing field, but how do we know? Is there an >>objective credentialing body behind the CRA exam, such as the >>Committee on Accreditation (CoA) which oversees the accreditation of >>programs and exams in professional psychology for the American >>Psychological Association (APA)? Is there anything more rigorous than >>anecdotal evidence to support the validity of the exam? >> >>Assuming the CRA exam does capture all the fundamentals of research >>administration, are the questions good questions, i.e., do the >>questions really tap the individual's true understanding of this body >>of knowledge? No test is perfect, and there are numerous factors that >>affect the reliability of a test, e.g., the length of the test, the >>way the items are constructed, and even the directions for taking the >>test. Reliability is an essential characteristic of a good test, >>because if a test doesn't measure consistently (reliably), then one >>can not know if the scores resulting from a particular administration >>are due to the examinee's achievement or random error. The CRA web >>site does not report test validity or reliability information, and >>these are important things to know before making someone's job >>dependent upon having or getting a CRA! >> >>Research administrators work hard, often without anyone noticing or >>appreciating the work being done. It therefore is very tempting to try >>and place research administration at the same table with other valued >>professions. However, if one looks at what other professions have done >>and are doing to achieve this respected status, it is clear that we in >>research administration have a long way to go. The CRA may be an >>important first step, but in my opinion it is unwise to think that we >>have reached the end of the journey. >> >>Pamela F. Miller, Ph.D. >>Director, Office of Sponsored Projects >>The University of San Francisco >>2130 Fulton Street >>San Francisco, CA 94117-1080 >>TEL 415-422-5368 >>FAX 415-422-6222 >>EMAIL xxxxxx@usfca.edu_ <mailto:xxxxxx@usfca.edu> >> >>====================================================================== >>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") >>====================================================================== >> >> >> > > >====================================================================== > 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") >====================================================================== > > >====================================================================== > 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") >====================================================================== > > > ====================================================================== 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") ======================================================================