uconn health

SPA Productions – Informational Videos

SPA Meetings

The Sponsored Programs Administrators (SPA) Meeting is held monthly during the academic year to provide information to department administrators.  SPA meetings are typically held the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 2:00 p.m.  Please send any suggestions or comments to SPA.training@uconn.edu.

 

Next Meeting – June 18, 2:00 p.m.

 

Upcoming Meetings

September 17, 2025

 

 

 

 

For information from previous meetings, visit the SPA Meeting Archive.

SPA Training Opportunities

Sponsored Program Services (SPS) is developing a comprehensive research administration education program.  The program will include in-person interactive learning experiences, online training modules, video tutorials, reference guides, and other workshops and events meant to provide support and professional development for research administrators, faculty, and students involved in research.

As the program develops, opportunities will be listed below and emailed to the Farmington Research Administration email group.  If you would like to be added to the Farmington Research Administration email group or you have any suggestions or comments, please send them to spa.training@uconn.edu.

SRAI LevelUp!

Are you interested in learning more about research administration? 

Sponsored Program Services (SPS) and the SPA Training Team are pleased to introduce our new research administration training initiative, the LevelUp Micro-Credential Program, now available to all UConn and UConn Health staff members. 

 Developed and maintained by the Society of Research Administrators (SRA) International, the LevelUp program offers online modules and mGuides that cover key topics relevant to today's research administration professionals, including pre-award administration, post-award finance, and regulatory and financial compliance. 

 These courses are accessible at any time and from any location, allowing for flexible learning. Participants who successfully complete the modules will earn a certificate from SRAI.  

 The modules typically require 3 to 5 hours to complete and include a randomized exam, while the mGuides take less than an hour and feature knowledge checks throughout.  

If you’d like more information about or access to the program, please reach out to spa.training@uconn.edu.   

CRA Exam Study Buddies

So you want to study for the Certified Research Administrator (CRA) exam?

Do yourself a huge favor and join the Virginia Tech Study Group!

They maintain a comprehensive program that includes weekly topics, daily study tips, and more!  To join the VT CRA Study Group, go to their website and click on the topic “How do I get involved with the study team?”.  Please read all the information on their page as it gives you a lot of information about the exam as well as the study group.

If you want a study buddy, add your name to our CRA Study Buddy spreadsheet and reach out to the people already on the list!  If you no longer want people to contact you, please return to the spreadsheet to delete your information.  This spreadsheet is not monitored.  If you see any problems, please email spa.training@uconn.edu.

Level One Basics of Research Administration

This 7 hour course is taught in two 3.5 hour sessions.  Topics include:

  • Defining research and research administration at UConn and UConn Health
  • Clarifying a sponsored project, its lifecycle, and the roles and responsibilities of all involved
  • Exploring the Office of the Vice President for Research and Sponsored Program Services
  • Defining agreement, sponsor, and funding types
  • Explaining compliance and audit regulations and findings
  • Introducing the subjects and terminology of pre and post award management
This is a highly interactive course, meant to deliver a lot of information in a conversational manner to help you retain the information discussed. Participants must have access to a reliable device with audio/video capabilities (laptop/desktop/tablet) to participate in class. WebEx will be the platform used to administer the course.  Register for classes through Saba.  Please Note: classes must have 5 participants to run.  Please email spa.training@uconn.edu with any questions.
2024-2025 Class Dates - All classes run from 8:30 am to 12:00 pm
September 3 and 5, 2024 (Tuesday, Thursday)
November 5 and 7, 2024 (Tuesday, Thursday)
January 7 and 9, 2025 (Tuesday, Thursday)
March 4 and 6, 2025 (Tuesday, Thursday)
May 6 and 8, 2025 (Tuesday, Thursday)

 

 

Federal Costing Principles Interactive Learning Experience

Federal Costing Principles

New for 2024-2025!  This course will now be offered in both an e-Learning format and an instructor-led format.  Registration for both courses may be accessed through Saba.

In this course, research administrators will engage in activities designed to help them:

  • confidently explain the importance of Uniform Guidance in research administration
  • evaluate costs to federally funded accounts against Uniform Guidance requirements to ensure compliance
  • make informed and accurate costing decisions using Uniform Guidance requirements as the foundation
  • make use of available UConn/UConn Health resources for questions and assistance

2024-2025 Instructor-led class dates - All classes run from 8:30 am to 12:00 pm

September 26, 2024 (Thursday)
November 21, 2024 (Thursday)
January 30, 2025 (Thursday)
March 27, 2025 (Thursday)
May 29, 2025 (Thursday)

Please email spa.training@uconn.edu with any questions.

Subaward Theory and Application

Coming soon!  

New for 2024-2025!  This course is now being offered in an e-learning format.   

Part One 

This self-guided, 20-minute module will discuss the basics about the theory of subawards, including:  

  • the definition of a subaward, 
  • a review of common subaward terminology,  
  • and a discussion about Cost Composition and Modified Total Direct Costs. 

Part Two 

Part two will cover everything you need to submit for a new subaward or amendment:   

  • the information requirements for initiating a subaward,  
  • the initiation process,  
  • drafting a subaward,  
  • monitoring subaward activities, and  
  • amendments to a subaward. 

This class can be accessed in Saba. 

If you would be interested in Subawards as an instructor-led training, please email spa.training@uconn.edu. 

Training Videos and NCURA Webinars

Training Videos and NCURA Webinars can be found on the OVPR-SPS NCURA Webinars Channel (NetID Logon required).

NIH Upcoming Events and Recordings of Past Events

Explore the extensive listings provided on the NIH Calendar of Events page to enrich your understanding of NIH grants policies, funding, and processes. Discover upcoming conferences, webinars, and more to attend, as well as opportunities to unlock resources from past events. Dive in and elevate your knowledge today.  Scroll down the page for past events or use the left side navigation to view On-Demand Event Resources and more content!

UConn Health Funding Module Training – Account Management System

Pertains to UConn Health Faculty and Staff members who use the Account Management System (AMS).

This 10 minute video explains the funding module available in the (AMS).  Faculty and Staff can use this video to learn how to navigate the AMS system to find the information needed to manage their awards.  Please contact ersadmin@uchc.edu for questions regarding the AMS system.  For questions regarding any UConn or UConn Health Training, please contact brenda.lowther@uchc.edu.

SPA Job Aids

Pre-Award

Proposal Routing Requirements Checklist

Budgeting Basics

Award Monitoring and Management

Allowable and Unallowable Costs

Costs of Federally Sponsored Research

Indirect vs. Direct Costs

No-Cost Extension Policy Matrix

Notice of Award Checklist

Award Review and PI Checklist

Consulting/Professional Services Invoice Review Checklist

Effort Reporting

IPR vs. IPAS

Processes and Procedures

Award Setup vs. PreAward Setup

Payroll Adjustments – EPAF and LDCA

OCTR Process Overview

Preaward Requests

Subawards

Subaward Invoice Review Checklist

SPA Meetings - Tips & Tricks

General Information

A-to-Z Resource Guide

Fly America & Open Skies Agreements

Expenditure Guidance

Admin and Clerical Salaries

Books, Journals, Periodicals, and Subscriptions

Conferences and Registration Fees

Materials and Supplies

Publication and Printing Costs

Advertising and Public Relations

Computing Devices

Equipment

Memberships, Subscriptions, and Professional Membership Costs

Travel

SPA Training Program

Sponsored Program Services (SPS) is developing a comprehensive research administration education program.  The program will include in-person training sessions, video tutorials, reference guides, and other workshops and events meant to provide support and professional development for research administrators, faculty, and students involved in research.

As the program develops, opportunities will be listed on the links available on the sidebar. Currently there is information in SPA Training Opportunities.

Please send any suggestions or comments to SPA.training@uconn.edu.

Export Control Agreements

Export control laws are federal regulations that govern how certain information, technologies, and commodities can be transmitted overseas or to a foreign national on U.S. soil. The scope of the regulations is broad: they cover exports in virtually all fields of science, engineering, and technology and apply to research activities regardless of the source of funding. Failure to comply with these laws can have serious consequences, both for the institution and for the individual researcher. Potential penalties include fines and possibly imprisonment. It is thus critical for UConn Health researchers to understand their obligations under these regulations and to work with Research Compliance Services to ensure that the University is in compliance.

Please visit this section in the Research Integrity & Regulatory Affairs area of the website for more information.

Research Advisory Groups

The Office of the Vice President for Research’s (OVPR) mission of supporting and advancing faculty research greatly depends on involvement and input from faculty and from UConn’s schools/colleges.  To that end, the Vice President for Research (VPR) has established research advisory groups to facilitate communication and collaboration between the OVPR and stakeholders across the university.  These groups meet regularly to discuss research-related issues that impact UConn/UConn Health faculty and provide opportunities for faculty to convey concerns to the VPR and the OVPR executive team and to work together to identify and implement solutions.

For more information about the Research Advisory Council (RAC) and the Research Deans Council (RDC), please visit the Storrs site.  If you are seeking information about the Health Center Research Advisory Council, you can read more here.