I am glad to see that my question has initiated a very interesting
discussion.  I've gotten a lot of ideas and questions to ask our "planning"
committee.

We currently have a routing sheet that is used for all submissions to
both federal and nonfederal sponsors.  The departmental director and
chair sign-off of the sheet before it gets to my office.  After I review
it, it goes to the controller and lastly to the Dean.  I am not really
comfortable with the notion that the proposals are reviewed at the
departmental level as they should be.  Hence the need for the committee
to review proposals for both merit and fundraising priorities at the
Development end.

The committee would not want to stifle research nor stop it, yet it would
want to have some means of control over what goes out with the
institution's name on it.  It will also help establish what should go to
Development as opposed to the Grants Office (sensitive area).

We are experiencing many of the same problems as I have heard mentioned
in the group.  We are looking for a means to get a better handle on what
goes on in our institution.

Keep the responses and suggestions coming!

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Sharon Comvalius
Office of Grants and Sponsored Programs
Teachers College, Columbia University
xxxxxx@columbia.edu
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