The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs at Stephen F. Austin State
University reports to the Associate Vice President for Graduate Studies and
Research (all proposal/contract activity) and the Vice President for
University Advancement (foundation and corporation proposals only).  Grants
accounting activities are carried out in the Controller's office which
reports to the Vice President for Business Affairs.

Under our previous Controller this arrangement work very well.  We had good
communication and coordination; under our present Controller we have
limited communication and little concern by the controller's office of the
university's obligations associated with grants and contract beyond
billing.   For us this is a "real" problem.

Our office does assist PI/PD's with resolving post-award problems with
their budgets (rebudgeting, carry forward, etc.) and with resolving project
management problems within projects and with university administrative
entities.

I would much prefer to see one office which handles all aspects of
sponsored activities (preaward and postaward).  I would prefer a "birth to
death" approach and I have submitted a proposal to that effect, but under
our present controller it is highly unlikely that we will see it.

__________________________________________________
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
WWW Site: www.research.sfasu.edu
Email: xxxxxx@sfasu.edu