The College of Charleston is a public (Carnegie) Level I Comprehensive
College/University with approximately 9,500 undergrad and 1,500 graduate
students and approx. 350 full-time faculty.  Our 1993-94 volume of
sponsored programs was $2.44 million (66 awards).

 We have a "university" component which consists of Graduate Studies,
the Office of Sponsored Programs, and Professional and Community Services
(which offers non-credit programs only).  This university component is
headed by one person who is "Dean of Graduate Studies and Vice President
for Research and Community and Professional Services."  The Office of
Sponsored Programs, which consists of a Director and a secretary, primarily
provides pre-award services and some post-award administration assistance,
although post-award accounting is handled by the Controller's Office.

 Currently, the College/University of Charleston, SC, has no "school"
of graduate and professional studies which can accept students, give
academic credit, offer programs such as a Bachelor of General Studies or a
Master of Liberal Studies, offer specialized degree programs, or accept
credits from experiential learning programs such as CLEP or PONSI.  We are
considering proposing "school" status for the University component so that
we can do some of these things.

 Although the advantages of such a plan for our Graduate Studies and
Professional and Community Services units are fairly clear, it is more
difficult to predict impacts, if any, on the Office of Sponsored Programs.

     Has anyone out there gone through a similar experience or does anyone
have any comments about the pros and cons of housing the research
administration unit under the type of "school" we are thinking about
proposing?  If you don't think housing the sponsored programs unit under
this type of school, where do you think it should go?  I will appreciate
any experiences you can share.  Thanks!