Encouraging administrators to attend seminars or asking to hear about a
faculty member's research is really excellent advice.  Pam gave several
reasons why this is good.  I would suggest another: learning about the
research at one's institution will make your job much more satisfying.
The reason what we do is important is, ultimately, the research that we
make happen.  Learning more and more about that work, and coming to
appreciate it as the years go by, just reinforces what we all need to
believe (and remember at the end of one of those not-so-pleasant work
days): human beings being curious and trying to answer questions is one of
the greatest virtues our species can offer.  Of course, you may not feel
welcomed each time you walk into a talk on a topic that will surely lose
you after the first few intro sentences.  People may look at you with
those "What is HE doing here?" glares.  But so what!  What's the purpose
of all those fliers in the elevator if everyone isn't welcome?  Is this
place a "community" or not?  And if you really feel unqualified to benefit
from a lecture, or UNWORTHY to enter Dept X's holy conference room because
you don't have a certain degree or never studied this or that, just ask a
research administrator who came from the academic/research side.  They get
the same looks!  And they are probably also quite clueless about
microtubules and quasars and Chaucerian imagery.  The point is that you
wanting to hear about something new that your faculty is studying is
GREAT.  Great for your relationship with the people you support and great
for you.

Just make sure that you don't get a rep for only attending seminars that
provide food...or worse, WINE!

Charlie

> Martha,
> You've received a lot of good advice so far, but I will also add my
two-cents worth.
> First, it is common to have some strained relationships.  Like others
have
> said, you can't please everyone, no matter how service-oriented you may
be.  And of course, we also have to tell people no sometimes. There's
just
> no getting around that.
> That said, I have found that if you make every effort you can on behalf
of
> your researchers, then explain why when you do have to say no, it goes a
long way towards building relationships.
> Something else that has worked for me is getting out to the faculty's
labs
> and offices.  Showing an interest in their work builds rapport, and it
also helps you to know who should see which of the program announcements
that often cross our desks.
> I've also gone to presentations by faculty. Sometimes they are way
beyond
> my scientific capabilities, but I usually do learn something, and the
good
> will it builds is invaluable. This, by the way, has led to faculty
requesting that I come when potential hires are visiting and presenting
their work. They like being able to show that their administrators are
interested (and helpful).
> I'd be happy to chat with you sometime if you'd like.
> One final comment.... Building that relationship takes time. As you've
already been told, it takes a while for word to get out, but it usually
does, eventually!
> Pam
>
> Pamela A. Krauser Vargas
> Kutztown University
>
> Phone 484-646-4340
>
> From: Research Administration List [mailto:xxxxxx@hrinet.org] On
Behalf
> Of Martha Taylor
> Sent: Tuesday, September 28, 2010 4:25 PM
> To: xxxxxx@hrinet.org
> Subject: [RESADM-L] sponsored programs offices and the campus culture
>
> Would anyone out there like to volunteer ways for a Sponsored Programs
Office (preaward and non-financial post award) to be viewed more
positively by the campus investigators?  My question assumes two things
-
> 1) that we want to be liked and 2) that we actually aren't liked now.
There is no evidence one way or another - just ramblings from a few
people
> in a few places but it is upsetting some administrators on our campus so
I
> feel compelled to ask what other universities do.
>
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 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")
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