Cheyney University encourages faculty and staff to explore several avenues for funding their research and other projects that align with university priorities, including external sources such as government agencies, private foundations, and other grant-making organizations. Please know that Only the President or the Chief Financial Officer can obligate the university and sign awards notifications. They are Cheyney University’s Authorized Organization Representatives (AORs).
Grants Administration and Sponsored Programs include projects and activities university faculty and staff conduct with funding secured from external sources that align with Cheyney University priorities. These projects are supported wholly or in part by external restricted funds that are contractually awarded to the university.
Individuals interested in pursuing funding opportunities will need to first speak with their supervisor to ensure the proposed project idea aligns with University priorities and passes the filter test of what is in the best interest of students, as well as advances the University. Next, written approval to proceed must be obtained from (1) the immediate supervisor; (2) the Division Chief; and (3) the University Chief Financial Officer (AOR) in that order.
Definition of Sponsored Projects – Research and development activities that are sponsored by an external entity to include Federal and non-Federal agencies and organizations. These may be activities involving the training of individuals in research techniques (commonly called research training) where such activities utilize the same facilities as other research and development activities and where such activities may not be included in the instruction function. More to the point, in a sponsored project the sponsor provides support for a specific activity, and the activity must deliver something back to the sponsor. Sponsored projects usually include a line-item budget which states monetary needs of the project and may or may not include indirect costs. Indirect costs are real costs to the university and are those costs the government recognizes as expenses necessary to run sponsored projects and that universities have the right to claim. Indirect costs are termed facilities and administrative (F&A) or overhead costs and project-related expenses that cannot be identified readily and specifically to any one particular sponsored project. Examples of these costs are heating and air conditioning, electricity, building maintenance, security, and administrative services to name a few. Cheyney University’s Federally approved Indirect Cost rate is 52%. Consideration of using a lesser rate may be approved by the Authorized Organization Representatives – the President or CFO.
The Director of Title III and Grants Administration works with faculty, staff, university partners, and other CU stakeholders to ensure a campus environment conducive to the research enterprise. This individual works closely with the members of the Executive Leadership Group, and the grant accountant to ensure monies received for funded projects here at the university are processed, CU remains in grant/contract compliance, and that required reporting to funders is completed accurately and timely.
Besides assisting with searches for funding opportunities, staff receive help with prospecting for funding opportunities; putting together proposal writing teams; brain-storming a unique focus and approach; conducting research for proposal content; networking and securing Letters of Support/Collaboration; scheduling and facilitating team meetings; proofing proposals along with team members; working with Finance and Administration on budgets and budget narratives; submitting finished proposals to funders; alerting team members of application status once submitted; post award documentation, acquiring required signatures.
Grants Administration Goals
The OSPR is the repository for all external funding pursuits at Cheyney University and as such, involvement with the OSPR is not optional. All responses to funding opportunities must be approved by and go through the Office of Sponsored Research.
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- Identifying external funding sources that align with university priorities
- Determining staff for proposal/contract development teams
- Facilitating team meetings
- Assisting in project research
- Developing proposals and budgets
- Proof reading applications and proposals
- Submitting proposal and contract applications in response to funding opportunities
- Coordinating pre-and post-award administration of grants or contract, and review
- Ensuring grant/contract compliance
The Director of Title III and Grants Administration may be reached at maestephens@cheyney.edu or 610-399-2282. This individual advises the administration on matters of regulatory compliance relative to grant and contract opportunities and internal sponsorship of scholarly activities and other related issues.
Mission
The mission of the Office of Sponsored Projects and Research (OSPR) is to advance the research enterprise at Cheyney University by promoting an environment that fosters creativity, collaboration, and community
The OSPR will assist you in securing funding through both internal and external grants for all of your scholarly endeavors. The office is committed to providing support to the University community by partnering with faculty, administrators, and staff, assisting them from the pre-award phase (concept development and identification of potential external funding sources, proposal and budget preparation, and submission of competitive proposals) to post-award (close out and reporting). The mission OSPR is to serve as an advocate for a campus environment conducive to the research enterprise and advise the administration on matters of regulatory compliance, internal sponsorship of scholarly activities and other related issues. The office also seeks to assist faculty members in identifying funding sources, assisting with development and review of proposals, and as assuring compliance.
The lifecycle of a sponsored project begins with finding funding, then developing the proposal, routing and submitting the proposal for approvals, outlining the project time-line for deliverables, obtaining the signed and executed grant or contract agreement, implementing the project, managing it for full compliance and reporting, and eventually closing out the project.
The OSPR is here to assist in all aspects of the project lifecycle, including preparation of the project budget, writing, editing, or providing feedback, routing for approvals, submitting the final proposal, and helping you set-up and manage the project upon receipt of the grant.
Every project will have a Principal Investigator (PI) or Project Director (the OSPR refers to both as the PI.)
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- Principal Investigator (PI) – The primary individual responsible for the preparation, conduct, and administration of a research grant, cooperative agreement, training or public service project, contract, or other sponsored project in compliance with applicable laws and regulations and institutional policy governing the conduct of sponsored research.
- Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI) Any key personnel who have responsibilities similar to that of the PI on research projects. While the PI has ultimate responsibility for the conduct of a research project, the Co-PI is also obligated to ensure the project is conducted in compliance with applicable laws and regulations and institutional policies and procedures governing the conduct of sponsored programs and research.