Research Administration Training Programs

This orientation is meant to introduce new staff and faculty to key concepts essential to research administration. Participants will receive an introduction to the various offices that support the research mission at UMass. This orientation will also review the Federal guiding principles in research administration including an analysis of the Uniform Guidance and cost principles.

Topics Covered

• Overview of offices and functions
• OMB Uniform Guidance
• Cost Principles
• Understanding F&A and MTDC
• Overview of Research Compliance

Instructors

• Emily Ranney

This session focuses on submitting proposals through the Office of Pre-Award Services (OPAS). Participants will learn the basics of budgeting and building budget justifications to meet sponsor and university guidelines. This session will also cover key policies and procedures related to proposal submission and OPAS review criteria. The goal is to ensure participants walk away with practical information to help navigate the complexities of proposal submission.

OPAS is responsible for reviewing and submitting all proposals to funding agencies for externally sponsored programs in research, instruction, and other public service programs as authorized in Trustee Policy T94-034. OPAS supports and advances the university's mission by providing leadership and expertise in the area of pre-award research administration.

Topics Covered

• Key policies and procedures related to proposal submission - 5 day policy, minimum effort, cost sharing, F&A waiver, late proposal requests, salary cap, etc.
• The role of OPAS and what OPAS staff review under the institutional obligation of the office.
• Line item costing and budget justification details
• Continuations and NIH RPPRs

Instructor
Staff from the Office of Pre-Award Services (OPAS)

This session explores ways to work effectively with PIs to manage the proposal development process. This program is geared to administrative staff but may also be useful to faculty.

Topics Covered

• Managing expectations, roles, and responsibilities
• Basic timeline and project management tips
• Reviewing Funding Opportunity requirements and procedures
• Making the most of Office of Pre-Award Services (OPAS) proposal management tools
• Common issues and best practices

Instructor
Staff from the Office of Pre-Award Services (OPAS)

Come join the Office of Post Award Management (OPAM) to learn more about the policies, procedures, and processes related to award acceptance, set up, negotiations, and other sponsor related actions. OPAM is responsible for reviewing, interpreting, and negotiating award terms, and as the Authorized Official, executes and accepts awards on behalf of the university. OPAM is responsible for stewarding sponsored funding in accordance with regulatory requirements for projects funded by federal, state, and local government agencies, foundations, foreign entities, and other public and private sources. OPAM also prepares, negotiates, and issues all sub-awards for collaborative research.

Topics Covered

• OPAM workflow
• Review of Kuali
• Terms and Conditions
• Sponsor requests (no cost extensions)

Instructor
Staff from the Office of Post Award Management (OPAM)

Join the Controller’s Office in a discussion about Financial Research Administration. Representatives from Research Accounting and Compliance will present on the various roles of each area within the Controller’s Office and how they facilitate and safeguard sponsored award funding at UMass.  

Topics to be covered include:

• People Soft award set up and modifications.
• Re-budgeting, financial reporting, subrecipient monitoring, invoicing and closeout.
• Cost allowability, cost share, cost transfers, Fly America and e-verification. 
• Requirements for approving expenses, signature delegation, etc.  
• Audit

Instructor
Staff from the Controller’s Office Research Accounting and Compliance

Come learn how to get the most out of the SUMMIT financial system to effectively manage an award. SUMMIT is also a great tool to monitor multiple grants for faculty and administrators who struggle with knowing which grant actions take priority over others.

Topics Covered

• How to get meaningful financial data out of SUMMIT
• Encumbrances and financial projections
• Managing multiple grants

Instructor
Joseph Hession

Participants will learn how to navigate Kuali, initiate and complete a Proposal Development record. Topics covered include:

• How to get access and login
• Overview of the Kuali platform, user dashboard, and navigation
• Create a new Proposal Development record or copy an existing one
• Understand requirements of each Proposal subsection
• Add Key Personnel and Address Book entries
• Add additional units and complete RTF and Intellectual Credit splits
• Complete the compliance sections and the questionnaire
• Attach documents to fulfill UMass and Sponsor requirements
• Replace or download attachments
• Set up a summary budget and use budget settings
• Clear common errors and warnings
• Route a proposal for internal approvals
• What to expect during OPAS review and submission

Instructors

• Sarah Vega-Liros
• Ellen Bitzer

Participants will learn how to create a detailed budget in Kuali. Topics covered include:

• Review budgeting categories and terminology
• Create a detailed budget in Kuali Research
• Use University date standards to create consistent budgets
• Understand how Kuali calculates Personnel and Non-Personnel budget items
• Use the Kuali Salary calculator (Excel)
• Set fringe rates, COLAs (inflation), and indirect cost rates
• Replicate budget periods
• Use auto-calculate functions
• Copy a budget
• Add Subaward budgets
• Change budget dates
• Handle salary and fringe updates

Instructors

• Sarah Vega-Liros
• Ellen Bitzer

Participants will review more complex budgeting scenarios with a special focus on Grants.gov (S2S) proposals. Topics covered include:

• Connect a Proposal S2S
• Upload User Attached Forms
• Upload Human Subjects Form
• Upload R&R Subaward budgets
• Budget for cost share and document commitments
• Budget for the NIH Salary cap
• Understand NIH Modular budgets
• Handle expected salary increases
• Non-standard budget periods
• On- and off-campus rates
• Parent-child budgets

Instructors

• Sarah Vega-Liros
• Ellen Bitzer