The Stephen F. Austin State University (SFA) - Office of Research and
Sponsored Program conducted a survey of Project Directors/Principal
Investigators opinion's related to our office this past spring.  SFA is a
comprehensive regional university in Texas with an enrollment of 12,600 and
external funding, excluding Pell grants, of $4.74 M.

Our response rate on the survey was not particularly good - 21.4%, and
either only the people who pretty much like what we are doing responded or
we really are doing pretty good.  I like to think we are doing pretty good.

Our survey included questions on:

Support Materials:
- Value of the funding notices we distributed
- Value of the quarterly newsletter
- Value of the newsletter opening article
- Use and value of office resources in developing their proposal

Internet Resources:
- Do they have access
- Have they used Internet resources to identifying funding opp's
- How frequently did they use the Internet to identify funding opp's

Proposal Development
- Did they contact the funding source prior to proposal development
- Value of office staff assistance in the development of proposals
- How helpful was staff comments
- Could they read the written comments
- Did they have a copy of a previously funded proposal prior to submission
- How helpful were copies of previously funded proposals in proposal development
- Did our office assist in the acquisition of an "exemplary" proposal.
- Did they review the foundation's annual report and/or IRS 990 prior to
submitting
- Did the office assist in acquiring information on the foundation
- If Office staff assisted with one-on-one writing, how helpful was the
assistance

Post-award Assistance
- Has the office assisted in the resolution of post-award problems
- If so, what was the quality of the support
- How helpful was the Office in explaining project obligations
- Did the Office participate in award negotiations
- If so, were they content with the outcomes

Recognition
- Do they feel they receive appropriate recognition
- How important is the newsletter section on recent proposal submissions
and awards
- What other forms for recognition would they like

External Funding Incentive Program
- How valuable is cash incentive program
- Does the program actually serve as an incentive

Disincentives
- What are significant disincentive to grant writing and submission

Suggestions
- How can the Office be more supportive.

__________________________________________________
Kris E. Rhodes
Coordinator, Research and Sponsored Programs
Stephen F. Austin State University
Box 13024 SFA
Nacogdoches, TX 75962
Phone 409/468-6606, Fax 409/468-1251
Email: xxxxxx@sfasu.edu