STARS
The STARS program introduces staff to the research enterprise and focuses on skill development and support for grant administrators
It fulfills four purposes
- Provides regular learning opportunities
- Builds a community of practitioners
- Professionalizes the field at Rice
- Makes Rice a destination for Research Administration
Contact
Kay Leigh Shannon (kay.leigh.shannon@rice.edu)
Modules
The STARS program comprises of 10 modules, taught in weekly succession twice a year.
Module 01) The Research Enterprise at Rice
Overview of the grant lifecycle and discussion of the importance of research, the structure of research administration at Rice, and the role that research administrators play in supporting the infrastructure
Module 02) The Pre-Award Process and Contract Negotiations
Introduction to the pre-award process, discussion of the proposal submission process, and partnership expectations between research administrators, faculty, and OSP.
Module 03) The Subaward Process
Introduction to the subaward process from pre-award to the end of the grant lifecycle. Review associated policies and processes, compliance issues, and best practices for working with faculty.
Module 04) Personnel Part 1: Appointments
Personnel appointments are often more than 70% of project cost. Discuss types of appointments and demonstrate using iO effectively for appointments, including labor distribution reporting.
Module 05) Personnel Part 2: Effort Reporting
Personnel appointments are often more than 70% of project cost. Discuss the importance of accuracy in effort reporting and rules/regulations around salary capping and cost sharing. Learn about common mistakes and how to avoid those pitfalls.
Module 06) Non-Personnel Expenditures
Discussion of best practices for non-personnel purchases. Discuss cost principles, allowable items of cost, and best practices to resolve common issues.
Module 07) Grants Management (Overview)
Understanding the benefits of good grant management and the consequences of poor grant management. Introduction to the Monitoring and Management Loop. Pre-Award is the blueprint. How to apply that blueprint correctly for labor and non-labor costs to ensure good management?
Module 08) Grants Management (Monitoring)
Overview of how periodic monitoring of sponsored projects should be carried out. What monitoring data is pertinent? How should it be analyzed? How to involve faculty both efficiently and effectively to facilitate the good management of their award portfolio?
Module 09) Compliance and Research
Discussion of common financial and non-financial topics in compliance. Financial topics include effort reporting, cost transfer, and cost sharing. Non-financial topics include IRB, IACUC, conflict of interest, data sharing, and more. Engage in case study to apply best practices to common compliance challenges.
Module 10) Emerging Issues
Discuss emerging issues in grant management at Rice and beyond.