Tales from three Start-up Sponsored Programs Offices

1. Tales from three Start-up Sponsored Programs Offices Establishing a course without a map or crew

2. Session Objectives • Establishing your Office’s mission and objectives. • Evaluating your institution’s culture: assessing your position and resources. • Identifying fundable assets within your institution. • Looking outside: the external funding and regulatory climate. • Pre-Award Services: facilitating the proposal process. • Post-Award Services: providing quality service to your PIs. • Compliance: What are the priorities? • Resources • Is working at a start-up for you?

3. Setting the Context(s) • Emerson College (Boston, MA) • Small, non-denominational college • Focuses on communication and the arts in a liberal arts context • Sponsored Research & Programs established May, 2011 • 1.5 million • Providence College (Providence, RI) • Small selective, liberal arts college • Catholic and Dominican identity • Sponsored Research & Programs established June, 2010 • 2.5 million

4. Setting the Context(s) (cont’d) • Regis University • SMALL CATHOLIC JESUIT UNIVERSITY • UNDERGADUATE AND GRADUATE • LIBERAL ARTS, PHARMACY, NURSING, AND PHYSICAL THERAPY, SCHOOLS • 1.8 MILLION

5. Working at a Start-Up?

6. Research Administration at a PUI: Kris’ take

7. Establishing your Office’s mission and objectives. • What is the landscape of working in a start-up versus an established office? • What internal and external factors must be considered in setting and achieving a vision for the new sponsored programs office? • Without a map or dedicated crew, how do you make steady progress?

8. Evaluating your institution’s culture: • Disparate views of sponsored programs make navigating a start-up office at a PUI interesting, yet challenging. • Assess your position and resources. • What are the established goals and parameters already set? • What expectations do other’s have your position? • At what point of readiness is your institution for sponsored research? For you?

9. Identifying your fundable assets: • What are the strengths of the college/university? Do you have programs/centers of excellence? • What are the strengths of the faculty? Level One: Who are your front-runners? Who are the experts? Level Two: Who’s interested in getting involved? • What existing relationships may be helpful? Is your geographic location useful? Are the existing sponsor relationships good? • Is there a prior history of funding or collaboration? Are there obvious partners? Are there less obvious relationships/collaborations that can be leveraged?

10. Looking outside: How will you be affected by the external funding and regulatory climate? • Declining funding availability. • Increasing regulatory requirements. • Business R&D and Sponsorships.

11. Establishing Infrastructure • How do you promote a culture of research? • Do you have financial management systems? • Do you have required policies and procedures in place? • Do you have adequate resources/support? • Do you have information for a web presence? • Do you have an IRB/IACUC? • Do you have the skills and competencies to move things forward? • Are you prepared to be a catalyst/facilitate change? Rarely would this tower be built the same way by the same person---

12. Compliance: What are the priorities? Establishing procedures and policies: • Garner Support • Educate faculty and staff of service/resources Determining priority to tackle: • Human Subjects Protection/IRB • IACUC • Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Promote an atmosphere of confidence • Free of fear

13. Pre-Award Services: Assisting with Proposal Development Assisting with Budget Facilitating Collaborations Funding Searches Training Facilitating relationships with funders

14. Post-Award Services: Doing for Supportive, educative meeting where PI is at Leaving to his/her own devices • Negotiation of agreements • Financial management • Reporting/Billing • Overhead distribution • Stewarding sponsors • Financial monitoring/compliance

15. Want to take on a start-up? Are you/Do you have/Can you get? • Ability to handle high-degrees of stress • Sustained, seemingly endless energy • Flexibility • Broad experience • Tolerance & patience (of self and others) • Ability to set boundaries (with self and others) • Ability to laugh (at self and with others) • Ability to seek help, guidance, and support through network

16. Take home messages -- Figuring out the what, how, and when in a start-up is more of an art than a science Context, context, context-Be mindful of goals/mission of the institution You are not alone-utilize the resources available Work toward moving from a one-man-band to a chorus!

17. Contact Information Elizabeth Demski Associate Vice President of Research and Creative ScholarshipEmerson College, Boston MA617-824-3075 elizabeth_demski@emerson.edu Kris Monahan Director, Sponsored Research & Programs Office of Academic Affairs Providence College, Providence RI 401-865-2554 kmonaha6@providence.edu Don Bridger Director, Office of Academic Grants, Office of Academic Affairs Regis University, Denver CO 303—458-4206 dbridger@regis.edu