Blog
April 3, 2024
Federal Regulations, Professional Development, and Workplace Culture
The Attain Partners team had a wonderful time attending the NCURA 25th Financial Research Administration (FRA) and 18th Pre-Award Research Administration Conferences in Honolulu, Hawaii, this year. Research administration colleagues enjoyed a week of engaging conversations and networking in a picture-perfect paradise on the shore of Waikiki Beach. Conversation themes included federal regulations, AI, professional development, interim staffing, and how to create optimal work environments for research administration professionals.
Our experts had the pleasure of presenting nine sessions and workshops on topics, including Uniform Guidance, financial compliance, PI transfer, and NIH. At Attain Partners, we have a proven track record of serving over 70 of the top 100 U.S. research institutions and 100% of Ivy League schools and offer a variety of tailored research enterprise services to help address issues any institution may be facing. Please contact us—we’re happy to help!
Themes from the 2024 NCURA FRA and PRA Conferences
Research Administrators await Uniform Guidance updates.
Changes in federal regulations are a constant area of focus for research administrators, and the OMB’s final revisions to the Uniform Guidance 2 CFR 200 are no exception. Gil Tran, Senior Specialist Leader, Grants Management at Attain Partners and former Senior Policy Analyst with the OMB, led jam-packed sessions at both FRA and PRA. The deep dive covered notable specifics, logistics, and impacts of the proposed revisions.
Interested in learning more?
Listen to this recorded Q&A session with Gil Tran where he answers questions and addresses concerns about the proposed Uniform Guidance revisions. Stay tuned for his next webinar as soon as the news is released from the OMB.
Opportunities abound for Research Administrators ready to take the next step in their careers.
As veteran RAs retire, organizations are finding it difficult to replace mid- to high-level positions quickly. “It’s hard to find someone who is knowledgeable, capable, and able to make the move to fill demanding openings at organizations,” said Jeff Derr, Specialist Leader at Attain Partners.
At Attain Partners, we support research enterprises in bridging operational gaps through interim staffing. We draw from our deep and talented pool of experts in research administration, financial aid, and federal compliance to best fit an organization’s operational needs and culture. When you find permanent replacements for these critical positions, we remain committed to a seamless transition, assisting in training your new hires to get them up to speed quickly.
Contact us to learn more about our interim staffing and training services.
Navigating balance in achieving optimal work environments is challenging.
Unsurprisingly, we heard a lot of conversations around work-life balance and creating desirable work environments in the post-pandemic working world. The conversation was vibrant as we soaked in the Hawaii sunshine, discussing the challenges of finding the right balance of remote, in-person, and hybrid work environments to attract new research administrators and encourage the career progression of those ready to take the next step. These conversations are ongoing and the opportunity to connect and discuss them amongst colleagues at the NCURA FRA and PRA conferences was needed.
The research administration community is strong and eager to welcome new faces.
The NCURA FRA and PRA conferences were rich in reunions between old friends and colleagues and exciting new relationships sparked with new research administrators. The paradise location of this year’s conferences drew professionals from across the country, making for a great conference full of lively connection and conversation. It’s always a treat to gather with the vibrant research community.
We look forward to continuing the conversations and exploring new ways to support each other in staffing, federal regulation, professional development, and innovation.
Attain Partners – Research Administration Experts
Compliance is critical to your organization’s ability to make an impact. At Attain Partners, we provide world-class expertise in navigating the complex and dynamic regulatory environment, implementing industry best practices, and optimizing performance. Learn more about our services, read an interview with industry expert Mark Davis, and contact us here.
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