The Research Administration Discussion List has been a valuable source of
ideas, examples, and comments over the years.  Recently several folks have
asked for comments from users of various software packages.  Subscribers to
the list have responded with excellent comments and critiques of software.
Likewise several outstanding comments on recognition and awards have been
circulating, such as the Million Dollar Club.  Most recently someone asked
questions about becoming a CRA.

Another forum for these comments is the SRA Contributed Paper Session.  I
extend an invitation to all to prepare a paper for that session expanding
on your use and critiques of software packages.  Your paper can talk about
reasons for purchase, functionality of the software, "work-arounds" you
have developed to fit your institution, and your thoughts on the software.
Or a paper on recognition, what has been tried, what works, the reception
by faculty to various ideas, and the acceptance by central administration
to such recognition.  And, a research administrator commented that he had
recently collected comments on the benefits of becoming a CRA.

The same invitation goes to all for any topic involving research
administration, the number of topics is staggering, the possibilities
endless, don't be shy, contribute your thoughts to the profession through a
paper................................Here are some details:

______________________________________________________________
You !!  are invited to join your colleagues in presenting your initiatives,
research, successes, failures, and ideas at the 1998 SRA Contributed Paper
Session.  This session will be held at the SRA Annual Meeting in
Philadelphia, PA on October 17 - 21, 1998.  The Program Committee invites
you, as an important part of the professional society, to prepare a paper
on ERA, office procedures, faculty workshops, policies to facilitate faculty
research, and a thousand other topics involving the wonderful field of
research administration.  The Contributed Paper Session will showcase your
initiatives in a 15 minute presentation followed by discussion with your
audience.  Your paper will be part of a published Proceedings, distributed
at your session.  Selected papers may be published in the SRA Journal.
Selected papers will be specially recognized at the Annual Meeting.

Your paper may be a presentation on any research administration related
topic, which makes for endless possibilities.  Sign up now and start
writing.  You are invited !!

For more information on the 1998 SRA Contributed Paper Session,  please
contact
John McKee at xxxxxx@engr.psu.edu.  To register your invited paper please
return the below information to John McKee at xxxxxx@engr.psu.edu.
_____________________________________________________________

Name: _____________________________________
Email:  _____________________________________

Tentative Title of Invited Paper: _______________________________________

"In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity"
________________________________________________
John R. Mc Kee - Coord, Research and Administrative Services
Office of the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Research
College of Engineering/Penn State
101 Hammond Building; University Park, PA 16802
email: xxxxxx@engr.psu.edu
phone: (814) 865-1804; fax: (814) 863-0497