First of all, Spanky's link worked fine for me (just for the record).

Second of all, though all the philosophical discussion is interesting, I
seem to be hearing "there's nothing we can do" rather than suggestions
for actually doing something.  (Maybe I'm having a cranky day.)

The following post is lengthy, but contains actual suggestions that
might be useful, so please bear with me.

A year ago, I was the first appointee to run a newly-established,
one-person research office (there had been a part-time "grant writer" a
few years ago, who mostly worked for Institutional Advancement, but then
she left).  I took advantage of my newness to interview all department
heads, and put out the word to faculty that I need to know what they do
in order to be able to let them know when a great grant opportunity
comes along.  I created a web site for my office, with links to a
faculty publications list (maintained by someone else) and with a list
of recent awards.  To the extent that I can find the time (maybe once a
week) I attend department seminars or other events that will give me a
better idea of what's going on intellectually in my institution.  I even
showed up in someone's class when he had a guest speaker.  This
demonstration of interest has a huge impact, and one starts to be seen
as a colleague rather than a clerk.  It is just as important for
post-award people as for pre-award; asking the see the finished product
of a research effort, or attending a seminar or event related to the
dissemination of the results, reinforces one's role as someone who
insures the quality of the intellectual output of the institution (a
good way to describe oneself to the President, rather than just "I help
faculty"), just like a doctor who insists the patient return for
follow-up.

My most recent endeavor is a Faculty Grantsmanship Colloquium on August
27th at which three of the most grant-prolific professors will speak
about how they began obtaining grants, how they develop partnerships
with other institutions, and how they roll from one grant to another.
Special invitations have been sent to the 27 faculty who were just
awarded internal $1,000-$3,000 Faculty Development Grants (managed by
the Provost's office, not by me) since an "outside" grant should be
their next step.  A more general invitation has been sent to the entire
faculty.  The event should provide useful information to those who are
early in their career, and it gives very much needed recognition to
those who have been pursuing grants for years.  I will speak for about
five minutes at the beginning of the event.  The College's Faculty
Development Committee is very much on board. (I got to know the Faculty
Development Committee Chair because I attend the Faculty Senate
meetings.)

This model of operation is one that perhaps is only doable at a small
school, though I would certainly encourage all the staff at larger
research offices to see the faculty with whom they work as a "stable" of
talent for whom they are an agent.  Give them the star treatment and you
will be reflected in their glory.

Landy

__________________________
Landy C. Johnson, MPA, Ph.D.
Director of Grant Development
Research Office
Assumption College, Alumni Hall 024
500 Salisbury St.
Worcester, MA  01609-1296
(508)767-7666
xxxxxx@assumption.edu

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