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Research Reporter :: March 2008
Research
Information from the University of Michigan
RAIN re-design underway
By Suzanne Tainter, DRDA
The Research Administrators Instructional Network (RAIN) training has been undergoing an extensive revision to better meet the needs of University research administrators and their units.
When it was begun ten years ago, RAIN was a pioneering effort to provide professional development for University research administrators.
Over the last year the program has been reviewed, and participants and instructors surveyed on current needs. With that information, an advisory team has been working to sharpen the course format.
The new RAIN program will include prerequisite classes, a core course, and eventually, several senior seminars that address specific topics for veteran research administrators.
The core course will be delivered in modules and follow the "life cycle of a sponsored project" from the search for funding through project close-out.
The course will also address over arching issues of ethical conduct and responsible research.
Over the next few months, experienced administrators from the department and college level and central offices will be working with professional instructional designers from DRDA and Human Resources Development to sharpen the focus of the modules and deliver the material in engaging ways.
Basic training for new administrators is now being emphasized in other training courses that will be required before acceptance in RAIN.
Look for a new application form in August, 2008, for the new RAIN training to be offered later in the fall. The times and application procedure will be announced on DRDA-net, on the UM Research Web site and in the University Record.
"We are excited to be offering this revised course for UM research administrators," says Marifelice Roulo, training coordinator for DRDA. "We are confident that administrators and their units will benefit from RAIN through enhanced understanding of the framework, concepts, and tools needed to accomplish their duties, and further their careers in research administration."
For more information, see the RAIN pages on the UM Research Web site at: http://www.research.umich.edu/training/rain/
RAIN Prerequisites
RAIN participants are expected to have at least three years of experience with sponsored projects in some capacity.
Because RAIN is intended for more experienced administrators, workshops for newer administrators have been made prerequisites to the course.
These workshops are presented by Division of Research Development and Administration (DRDA) and Financial Operations/ Sponsored Programs and Cost Reimbursement offices.
Find schedules and on-line registration links in the Training section of the UM Research Web site.
Don't despair if a course you need is filled. They are offered at least quarterly; some monthly, and others every other month.
Introduction to Sponsored Projects Administration
For people with very little experience in research administration, this free workshop provides an overview of the University offices and departments responsible for research administration and their relationship to the unit administrator. Also covered are the stages in the life cycle of a sponsored project, including procedures for proposal development and submission, filling out the proposal approval form, award acceptance, project initiation and more.Introduction to Budgets: Developing Grant Proposal Budgets
Aimed at faculty and staff with responsibility for developing budgets for sponsored projects, the workshop is also valuable to those with post-award financial responsibilities. Topics covered include: Identifying direct and indirect (F&A) costs in budgets, cost sharing, budget considerations by sponsor type, steps for developing a budget, different types of budgets and budget formats. Participants will develop a mock budget.Financial Administration of Federally Sponsored Projects
An overview of the guidelines and fundamentals of handling federal projects within the University, including the opening of Project/Grants, cost sharing, indirect costs, cost accounting standards, A-21 monitoring, hardships, cost transfers, statement of activity and project budget report review.A-21 Expenditure Monitoring of Federally Sponsored Projects
A detailed explanation of how the University applies OMB-Circular A-21 principles to expenditures on federally sponsored projects, including how A-21 affects project proposals and post award re-budgeting. Also covered is the A-21 expenditure review process.Cost Accounting Standards
Overview of the federal government's OMB Circular A-21 regulations for Cost Accounting Standards and the policies for compliance at the University of Michigan. The Cost Accounting Standards and the Policy on Indirect Cost Recovery Excluded (ICRX) Expenditures apply to ALL university expenditures.Grants.gov: Electronic Submission of Federal Grant Applications
Grants.gov is the federal web portal for finding grant opportunities from any federal agency and locating application packages, as well as where DRDA submits electronic applications prepared by UM faculty and staff. The workshop covers the features of the system and how to prepare applications from UM.
March 2008
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