WCSU Faculty Handbook : Creative Activity, Professional Development Opportunities, and Research Protocols

Office of Sponsored Research Administrative Services

The Office of Sponsored Research Administrative Services reports to the Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs and provides assistance to faculty who wish to obtain external support for educational and research activities, through the following services: Identification of funding sources, liaison with outside agencies; assistance with internal review; editing; budget preparation; and similar grant-related matters.

See also grant application procedures and Bylaws of the Research and Development Committee.

External Grant Proposals and Applications

The Office of Sponsored Research Administrative Services (OSRAS) provides pre-award through post-award administrative management for all sponsored projects at Western Connecticut State University (WCSU).  The office assists in identifying funding sources, preparing and submitting proposals, and managing post-award activities and requirements.  The director also serves as a liaison with funding agencies.

All grant applications and proposals for external funding that involve WCSU as the lead organizational applicant or as a collaborating partner must go through the university’s process for reviewing and authorizing them prior to submission.  If your proposal involves the hiring of personnel or staff, you also will need the approval of the Chief Human Resources Officer.  For grant applications that require the applicant to be a 501(c)(3) organization, the development and submission of the proposal must be coordinated with the Western Connecticut State University Foundation.  The OSRAS director will assist you in this process.

If your project involves research with human subjects or with vertebrate animals, you will need to get the approval of WCSU’s Institutional Review Board (IRB) or the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC).  The IRB form and instructions are available online at the Institutional Review Board page.  The IACUC form opens PDF file is available online.

 

The Proposal Process

It is highly recommended that you submit your proposal/application for internal review at least one week prior to the submission deadline to allow sufficient time for the internal review and approval process.  To initiate this process, complete the Internal Administrative Approval Form; attach copies of the proposal narrative and budget to the form where indicated; and click the submit button at the end of the form. This will distribute the form and the attachments to all the internal reviewers including your department chair and dean, the Provost, the Associate Vice President for Finance and Administration, the Controller and Director of Fiscal Affairs, Director of OSRAS, and the Chief Human Resource Officer, if required.  The application may be submitted following receipt of all the reviewers’ approval to do so.  This final step is very important since WCSU may refuse an award for an application or proposal submitted without administrative approvals.

Indirect Cost Distribution

Please check with the Director of OSRAS for WCSU’s current negotiated indirect cost rate.  Indirect reimbursements from grant awards are distributed as follows:

  • Principal Investigator (PI) or Project Director receives 25% of indirect costs;
  • PI’s/Project Director’s Department receives 10% of indirect costs;
  • PI’s/Project Director’s School or Division receives 5% of indirect costs;
  • Office of Sponsored Research Administrative Services receives 20% of indirect costs; and
  • University’s General Reserve receives 40% of indirect costs.