Mission
The Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) serves as the principal point of contact for individuals seeking and/or managing externally funded research, scholarship, and creative activities. OSP enhances and facilitates research and other sponsored activities by providing the university community with professional and effective administrative and financial expertise in the management of sponsored projects while preserving the rights and interests of the university, researcher, sponsor, and community. OSP support includes providing assistance for:
- Locating funding opportunities
- Proposal development and submission
- Award receipt and negotiation
- Financial administration and monitoring
- Closeout coordination
Our office will meet its objectives through strong internal collaboration, continuous professional development for our employees, provision of superior customer service to our clients, and application of strong expertise in the effective administration of university awards and in providing tools and analytical services to support and facilitate the stewardship of sponsored funding.
Responsibilities
OSP has responsibility for sponsored programs across the entire lifecycle of the award. These responsibilities include:
- Providing assistance to locate funding opportunities
- Proposal development and submission
- Award receipt and negotiation
- Financial administration and monitoring
- Closeout coordination
Responsibility for these activities involves our pre-award and post-award teams.
Pre-Award
Pre-award staff works closely with faculty members and their research staff to:
- Assist faculty in identifying opportunities for research funding
- Review and assist in the preparation of proposals
- Approve and submit proposals
- Negotiate terms and conditions of awards
- Identify and resolve administrative issues that arise throughout the lifecycle of the award
A primary responsibility of the pre-award team members is to protect the university and its researchers in the areas of intellectual freedom and ownership of intellectual property.
Post-Award
The post-award staff works with faculty members and their research staff to:
- Ensure accurate and compliant accounting of income and expenditures
- Complete and submit financial reports required by sponsors
- Complete, submit, and collect on periodic invoices
- Assist with account reconciliation and closeout
- Coordinate audits
A primary responsibility of the post-award team members is to protect the university and its researchers in financial matters.