2017 Symposium for Research Administrators
Page Updated: September 7th, 2017
Announcements
Register for the 2017 Symposium today!
Supporting the UW: Research Administrators Working Together
September 13th, 2017 - Gordon Event Center
The Symposium for Research Administrators is an exciting opportunity to establish connections and expand the knowledge of research administration at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
The theme of the 2017 Symposium for Research Administrators is “Supporting the UW: Research Administrators Working Together” and will showcase knowledgeable speakers from a variety of offices across campus.
This year, symposium attendees will be offered a variety of concurrent sessions to choose from depending on their interests.
Throughout the day we will touch on issues that involve multiple stages of the award life cycle. The Symposium aims to strengthen collaboration through shared learning experiences and conversation.
We hope you enjoy the variety of topics, speakers and networking opportunities throughout the day.
Supporting the UW: Research Administrators Working Together
September 13th, 2017 - Gordon Event Center
About the Symposium
Location
Gordon Event Center, 770 W. Dayton Street (Second Floor) - Download Floor Plan (PDF)
Intended Audience:
UW Administrators who work directly with sponsored projects. This includes department administrators, financial accountants, dean's office administrators, RSP staff and more.
Brought to you by:
The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (RSP)
Advisory Planning Committee:
Melanie Hebl (RSP), Bonniejean Zitske (RSP), Sandy Fowler (CALS), Tammy Kuhn Martin (COE), Debbie Meltzer (SMPH), Nick Novak (VCRGE), Mary Nutt (SMPH), Christy Schulz (SMPH), Lori Ushman (L&S)
Questions/Feedback:
Any questions about the event can be directed to the RED team in RSP.
608-282-3822 or red@rsp.wisc.edu
Supporting the UW: Research Administrators Working Together
September 13th, 2017 - Gordon Event Center
Agenda
Supporting the UW: Research Administrators Working Together
September 13th, 2017 - Gordon Event Center
Speaker Bios
Mark Sweet is the Director of Electronic Research Administration in the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He and his staff are responsible for providing support and system that help faculty and others administer research more effectively and efficiently. His group is also responsible for effort reporting and grants data reporting.
Mark is involved in campus information technology governance and serves on both the Information Technology Committee and Research Technology Advisory Group. He is the current Co-Chair of the Electronic Research Administration Steering Committee of the Federal Demonstration partnership.
Supporting the UW: Research Administrators Working Together
September 13th, 2017 - Gordon Event Center
Topic Descriptions
Click on each topic to see session description and speaker names and presentation slides and handouts.
Federal Updates: Federal Budget, COGR, and FDP
Speakers
Michael Lenn, Kim Moreland, and Mark Sweet
Unraveling the Award Cycle: Untie Knots with Knowledge and Collaboration
Speakers
Debbie Meltzer, Mary Nutt, and Kim Stevenson
Description
We will share how working together can unravel the Award Cycle. Untie the knots when PIs, departments, dean's offices and RSP work together. Learn the processes, people, and tools to effectively support and foster research at the University of Wisconsin. As administrators, we are not only supporting researchers, but are involved in research on a daily basis. Research administration is an ever-changing field and collaboration at all levels will improve support to our faculty and staff, ensuring that the University of Wisconsin remains a research powerhouse. "Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much" -Helen Keller
Slides and Handouts
Gift/Sponsored Project/Fee for Service: Definitions and Tips for Making a Determination
Speakers
Bonniejean Zitske, Shelly Earl, and Aaron Crandall
Description
At UW-Madison, great value is placed on financial stewardship. It is critical at the outset of a project or partnership to determine the intent, purpose, and expectation for money that is given to the UW. This information determines whether the funds are administered as gifts, sponsored projects, or fee-for-service accounts. This session will define each of these categories, discuss tips for making a determination, and highlight why it is so important to get it right up front.
Classifying and Paying for Direct vs. Indirect Costs
Speaker
Emily Konkol, Jennifer Rodis, and Karla Thompson
Description
As a research administrator, you have to know the answer to the question – “Can we pay for this on the grant?” This question can arise while creating a budget for a grant proposal and after the grant has been awarded. To help you answer that question, we will review the definitions for and provide examples of direct and indirect costs. We will discuss the guidance behind why certain costs belong as direct charges on the grant and why other costs do not. Research administrators also need to know – for costs that cannot be directly charged to the grant, what are alternative funding options? Finally, we will touch on resources available to research administrators to help make these decisions.
Slides and Handouts
The Truth about Vilas Awards
Speakers
John Varda and Angie Stenli
Description
We will present basic facts about the often-misunderstood and incredibly valuable Vilas awards. Vilas awards are unique sponsored projects that are issued every year in at least a dozen different award types to many PIs in many departments. Today, there are over 250 open Vilas awards with over $14M in total budget. We intend to demystify the quirkiness, quash the rumors, and end the misinformation. We will point the attendees to our online resources and have an extensive Q&A session following our formal presentation.
Slides and Handouts
Contractor vs. Employee: Things to Think About
Speakers
Lori Voss and Laura Fisk
Description
Research Administrators may find themselves tasked with making arrangements for payments to individuals supporting sponsored research. In an effort to help facilitate this work, we will share the high-level markers of an employee and independent contractor, and the process requirements. The focus of the session is on individuals performing work, as opposed to third party commercial vendors and/or subrecipients. Payments exceeding $5000 will be the focus of the session. Attendees will learn how to quickly develop and present the information needed to move forward with the development of a position (if employee) or contract (if independent contractor).
Slides and Handouts
Multi-Department Collaboration: Best Practices for Managing Interdisciplinary Research
Speakers
Kurt McMillen, Kristin Harmon, and Shelly Earl
Description
In today’s complex university landscape, there are powerful drivers for multidisciplinary research. It is widely accepted that researchers from various disciplines can accomplish more through collaboration. More and more, in fact, funding agencies are encouraging and even requiring these types of collaborative efforts. However, greater collaboration amongst research faculty can only be successful with effective teamwork amongst research administrators. This session will discuss tips and best practices for working on interdisciplinary and multi-institutional projects here at UW. The strategies covered can be implemented at all levels of the UW research administration enterprise to maximize efficiency and effectiveness in supporting faculty who are engaged in multidisciplinary research projects.
Crash Course in NIH Training Grant Administration
Speakers
Jenny Dahlberg and Mallory Musolf
Description
Training grants are unique sponsored grants that have many specific award management rules that differ to typical NIH grants. This session will focus on a high-level overview of training grant (T32) management basics including application preparation, appointment management, reporting requirements, and accounting restrictions. This “crash-course” in T32 administration will give participants a basic knowledge of how to manage T32 programs and where to find additional training grant resources. Best practices will be shared with participants on annual progress report preparation and Xtrain (required for appointments/terminations) use within eRA commons.
Slides and Handouts
Pre-Award Proposal Prep - Including Budgets
Speakers
Erin Goeldner and Amber Jensen
Description
This session is perfect for someone new to research administration seeking to learn more about the proposal preparation process, including budget development and review. Attendees will have the opportunity to interact with fellow learners while reviewing program announcements, developing a proposal timeline, and reviewing budget case studies. We will highlight the roles and responsibilities of the individuals involved in the proposal preparation process as well as the importance of asking good questions, while having some fun along the way.
Clinical Trials are Unique: What you Need to Know
Speakers
Jennifer Collins and Jenny Dawson-Tibbits
Description
Join us for a discussion on the unique aspects of clinical trials, including an overview of clinical trials (what are they, sponsor types, funding sources, and investigator-initiated studies), special IRB considerations, available campus resources, and a deeper dive into budget challenges that come with clinical trials.
Slides and Handouts
Updates: Uniform Guidance and Research Terms and Conditions
Speakers
Jennifer Rodis and Kim Moreland
Description
The Uniform Guidance has been in effect for nearly three years. Let’s review some important changes that were made as a result of the Uniform Guidance (UG). We will also talk about the current state of the UG and touch on potential regulatory reforms. Finally, we will discuss the Research Terms and Conditions, which were released in March 2017 and impact certain federal awards.
"Grant-Land" the Post-Award Game: Learning to Navigate Post-Award Research Administration
Speakers
John Varda, Sandy Fowler, and Mary Bauer
Description
Navigating a grant to closeout is like playing a board game. Grant administrators want to make a purchase and do it quickly, but many times rules of the institution, award terms, or a situation sends you back to start. Grant Land takes on the Candy Land theme to show grant administrators that grant management is not a simple start to finish game. The object of the game is to reach the Closeout Castle by managing a grant correctly from the time of award to closeout. Players need to avoid award management pitfalls that send them back to start or delay progress.
Slides and Handouts
Working with Industry: Common Hiccups
Speaker
Robert Gratzl and Richelle Martin
Description
With questions constantly arising about the continuity of federal funding for research, there is an increasing need and desire to look to industry as collaborators. However, with new opportunities industry presents, there is also new challenges from an agreement perspective. This presentation will cover common interactions between the University and industrial sponsors, highlighting the where and why for different needs when contracting and ways you can help in the process.
Slides and Handouts
Research Administration Roles and Responsibilities Matrix: Who is Responsible for What?
Speakers
Bonniejean Zitske and Tammy Kuhn Martin
Description
UW-Madison is a heavily decentralized campus. This means, that administrative responsibilities are shared among various research administrator groups including central (RSP, Business Services, OHR) and campus (Dean’s Offices, Departments, Centers). This session will explore the different areas, define them, and look at which areas are responsible for what activities. Here is an online matrix to view ahead of the session: https://rsp.wisc.edu/policies/staffroles.cfm
Supporting the UW: Research Administrators Working Together
September 13th, 2017 - Gordon Event Center
Contact Information
Questions/Feedback:
Any questions about the event can be directed to the RED team in RSP.
608-282-3822 or red@rsp.wisc.edu
Supporting the UW: Research Administrators Working Together
September 13th, 2017 - Gordon Event Center