At Coastal Carolina University we've done it both ways and I think it
is best for the research office to be (remain) on the academic side.
For one thing, it conveys a message to the faculty about the
place of sponsored projects in their professional development
(ultimately leading to promotion and tenure) while still keeping
"research" and teaching in the same arena.  I sometimes tell people
(when they ask "just what does a research administrator do?") that I
spend 1/3 of my time helping faculty to get external funding  and
2/3rds telling them they can't just spend it anyway they want to.
WHile I am really trying to be facitious,there is some truth to this;
we have at times to be both the "good cop" and the "bad cop" and I
feel that being on the academic affairs side emphasizes the former
role more.

Most research offices do more than you list.  Things like provide
information on funding opportunities through campus newsletters,
bulletin boards or mailings and helping to administer internal grant
or matching funds accounts.  What would be the impact on these
services if you reported to the VPAdmin?

At Coastal Carolina University pre and post award responsibilities
are conducted by different people, but all technically under one
office.  I say technically because Grants Accounting is physically
located in the Fiscal Affairs office and reports to the Controller as
well as to me.  Fortunately, the Controller and I get along well.
The Contoller's role is basically to make sure that Grants Accounting
follows the same procedures etc. as the University's other fiscal
services.  It might not work if the persons (or personalities) were
different, but it works for us.

 Richard H. Moore
 Assistant Vice President for Grants and Sponsored Research
 and Professor of Biology

Coastal Carolina University                E-MAIL: xxxxxx@coastal.edu
P.O. Box 1954                              VOICE: (803) 349-2050
Conway SC 29526                            FAX: (803) 349-2990