Sponsored Projects Academy training series

Geared towards individuals who assist their unit or cost center with research administration, the Sponsored Projects Academy training series, consisting of the Introductory Sponsored Projects Academy and the Advanced Sponsored Projects Academy, is designed to train, educate, and develop research administrators at the University of Nevada, Reno.

Introductory Sponsored Projects Academy

Attendees will gain an overall understanding of the entire sponsored project process including proposal development to project closeout, policies and procedures governing University sponsored projects, and the research administration support services available within the Research & Innovation division.

The six-week course meets once a week and is offered in the fall semester.

Fall 2023 dates

  • Friday, September 29, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
  • Friday, October 6, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
  • Friday, October 13, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
  • Friday, October 20, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
  • Friday, November 3, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
  • Friday, November 10, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

If you are interested in registering for the Introductory Sponsored Projects Academy, please contact Sierra Hooft.

Course curriculum

Week 1: Sponsored projects lifecycle & pre-award activities

  • Research & Innovation division introduction
  • Sponsored projects life cycle-introduction
  • Pre-award phase
  • Award phase
  • Post-award phase
  • Uniform Guidance cost principles

Week 2: Pre-award & post-award activities

  • Other proposal documents: budget justifications, current & pending support, biosketches
  • Facilities & administrative (F&A) costs
  • Project management
  • College grant coordinator overview: building a proposal budget & the SP-22 form
  • Grants administration from a department perspective: best practices
  • Subawards

Week 3: Post-award activities continued

  • Workday grant functions: best practices
  • Cost transfers & the SP-6 form
  • Cost sharing, the SP-11 form & the SP-7 form
  • Effort reporting
  • Project changes, transfers/dispositions plans & the SP-5 form

Week 4: Partner offices

  • Environmental Health & Safety
  • Animal Care & Use Committee (IACUC)
  • Research Integrity
  • Enterprise & Innovation
  • UNR Libraries: data management

Week 5: Compliance & special topics

  • Project closeouts
  • Conflict of interest
  • Export controls & international research
  • Purchasing
  • Best practices in audit preparation

Week 6: Wrap-up, review and exam

Find more information in the Nevada Today article on the inaugural Sponsored Projects Academy.

Advanced Sponsored Projects Academy

Attendees will gain a deep understanding of select sponsored project topics such as funding opportunity announcement review, budget development, program Workday costing allocations, subawards, risk accounts and cost transfers.

The four-week course meets once per week and is offered in the spring semester. If you are interested in registering for the Advanced Sponsored Projects Academy, please contact Sierra Hooft.

Course curriculum

Week 1: Proposal solicitation review & program income

  • Welcome & introductions
  • Proposal solicitation review & group exercise
  • Open discussion/Q&A

Week 2: Proposal budgeting

  • Proposal budgeting
  • Proposal budget review group exercise
  • Open discussion/Q&A

Week 3: Workday costing allocations & subawards

  • Workday costing allocations demo
  • Subawards & group exercise
  • Open discussion/Q&A

Week 4: Risk accounts & cost transfers

  • Risk accounts
  • Cost transfers & group exercise
  • Open discussion/Q&A