Re: CRA - Fact or Urban Legend Charlie Hathaway 05 Dec 2005 16:12 EST
A bachelor's degree shows someone endured some course work, stuck with something long enough to finish, and can probably be molded into a good employee. Given that we can't try out all job applicants on a 6 month trial, academic degrees are great screening tools. But is that what the CRA exam will become? When I hear all these HR excuses, it sure sounds like it. CH At 03:36 PM 12/5/2005, you 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") ======================================================================