University Research Council
February 23, 2010
Meeting Summary
Report from the
Office of Research
Allen DiPalma, Director of the Office of Research, and Michael
Ranieri, the Office’s Assistant Director of Information Technology and Training,
discussed changes to the Office of Research’s operations. Long-term trends, such as an overall increase
in grant submissions and staffing constraints within the University, and
short-term developments, including limitations within the Grants.gov system and
the consequences of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, have
complicated the Office’s operations. Office
staff are addressing these issues through enhanced
efficiency, increased accountability, and improved communications. InfoEd, the
University’s electronic grant-management software, is being configured in a manner
that furthers these goals. The
notice-of-award process is now electronic, whereas it previously had been paper
based; staff now maintain an award activity log, which
enables them and departmental administrators to track proposals more easily;
and proposal-related documents are being uploaded and made available to all
relevant parties.
This year’s federal agencies trip will take place on Sunday
and Monday, March 21 and 22. Faculty
members from engineering and the science departments will travel to
Miscellaneous
Council members also discussed: