Research Administration Education Series

A major initiative of the Research Partners is to provide information and training on the administration of research funds to the U of A research community. Generally, the series runs from September to June. Please contact a Research Partner for more information.

Research administration can be complicated! We have developed a series of educational sessions to help researchers and administrators understand the processes and procedures involved when finding, applying for and managing research funding. The sessions may be presented online using Zoom or in person, and use a mix of presentation slides and demos.

Please visit this website regularly to keep informed of upcoming sessions.

Series 1: The Basics

Includes sessions covering topics such as how to find funding, using the Researcher Home Page and eTRAC, types of research projects, and so on.

Session 1: Finding and Applying for Research Funding

Learning Objectives:

  1. Participants will know where they can find information about funding opportunities
  2. Participants will understand how to determine whether or not they are eligible to apply to a particular funding opportunity
  3. Participants will understand why it is necessary to submit research funding proposals for review and approval by the University
  4. Participants will understand how to submit a research funding proposal for review and approval by the University

No session currently scheduled

Session 2: Finalizing Funding

Learning Objectives:

  1. Participants will understand the steps involved in finalizing funding
  2. Participants will understand what documentation is required in order to approve funding
  3. Participants will understand how to obtain appropriate animal, human, biohazard, and stem cell certifications

No session currently scheduled

Session 3: Managing Funding, Part 1 - Types of Peoplesoft Projects

What is a PeopleSoft Project? Are some types of research activities better suited to certain types of PeopleSoft Projects? Find out at this session.

Learning Objectives:

  1. Participants will understand the difference between a cash-based project and a budget-based project.
  2. Participants will have a basic understanding of the differences between some of the different Funds used.
  3. Participants will understand the purpose and characteristics of a general research project
  4. Participants will understand the purpose and characteristics of a research donation project
  5. Participants will understand the purpose and characteristics of a conference project

No session currently scheduled

Session 4: Managing Funding, Part 2 - Amendments and Administrative Extensions

Need to create an amendment for your project or require an administrative extension? This session will go over the various reasons you might need an amendment, as well as the step-by-step process of how to create one, what documentation is required, and other critical details.

No session currently scheduled 

Session 5: Managing Funding Part 3 - Subgrant vs Service Agreement for Research: What's the difference?

This session will address the distinctions between a subgrant and a service agreement and how researchers can determine which they need. The workshop will also touch on requesting a subgrant or service agreement going out of the University, as well as incoming subgrants or service agreements. Understanding the role each plays will help with funding management and project management.

Learning Objectives:

  1. Participants will have an understanding of the difference between subgrants and service agreements.
  2. Participants can decide when it is a subgrant or when it is a service agreement they require.
  3. Participants will know how to request a subgrant and/or a service agreement to go out of the university.
  4. Participants will learn what to do with incoming subgrants or service agreements.

No session currently scheduled

Session 6: Research Project Close out - Administrative and Financial Activities by RAS

We tend to assume that once project activity deliverables have been submitted to the sponsor that the project is over. But is it really? There is more to a proper project close-out than research findings, summaries, and scientific reports. Project closure includes meeting administrative and financial obligations. Learn what the Research Administration Services must do to close down research accounts.

Learning Objectives:

  1. Participants will learn of sponsor (such as Tri-Agency) requirements in closing a project.
  2. Participants gain an understanding of the activities required to close out a research project properly, focusing on financial and administrative closure.

No session currently scheduled.

Session 7: Paperclip and Magnifying Glass - Using Researcher Home Page and eTRAC to Manage Research Grants

Ever wonder what is left to spend on a research grant, how long to spend it, or what it was spent on? Or ponder which is the actual grant end date? Master the use of the Researcher Home Page and eTRAC to effectively manage research grants you hold or administer for a grant recipient. 

This step-by-step introductory (or refresher) workshop will highlight key functions of these electronic tools and the kinds of information researchers, research personnel, or administrators can glean from them. Find the answers to your questions behind the paperclip and magnifying glass symbols.

Learning objectives:

  1. Participants will learn how to navigate through the Researcher Home Page and eTRAC (online PeopleSoft tools).
  2. Participants will know where they can find or retrieve information on the Research Home Page and eTRAC. 
  3. Participants will be able to make sense of the information appearing on the Researcher Home Page and eTRAC.
  4. Participants will know how to use the Peoplesoft tools to track, manage and reconcile their research grants.

No session currently scheduled

Session 8: Tri-Agency Guide to Financial Administration

In April 2020, the old Tri-Agency guide to financial administration was officially replaced with the new Tri-Agency Guide on Financial Administration (TAGFA). The TAGFA requires a new way of thinking about use of grant funds as it strives to achieve a balance between compliance and flexibility for research-related expenditure of Tri-Agency grant funds.

The decision-making authority over the use of grant funds is now left to the administering institution as the Tri-Agency steps away from prescriptive lists of eligible and ineligible expenditures in favor of the new principles and directives-based guide.

Learning objectives:

Gain a better understanding of how to use the new TAGFA’s principles and directives-based approach to post-award administration of grants funded by the Tri-Agency.

Learn how the TAGFA relates to the U of A’s own expenditure policies.

No session currently scheduled

Series 2: Advanced

This series includes sessions that dig deeper into some of the basic processes and their underlying policies such as agreement negotiation, receiving donations, etc.

More sessions planned and will be posted here. Please check back regularly to register.