Event
Event Details
Where:
Washington, D.C.
Booth #209
Washington, D.C.
Booth #209
When:
August 4 - 7, 2024
August 4 - 7, 2024
As a proud annual sponsor of the NCURA Annual Meeting, Attain Partners research administration experts look forward to connecting and sharing our expertise with you at yet another action-packed Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C.
Are you attending? Add these informative sessions, workshops, and discussion groups to your meeting agenda—or connect with our experts one-on-one. Visit us at Booth #209 to discover how our tailored research enterprise services can help address issues your institution may be facing.
Sunday, August 4
WS04: Certified Pre-Award Research Administrator (CPRA) Knowledge Review Session
Sunday, Aug. 4 | 8:15a – 4:30p | Workshop
This workshop is the CPRA Body of Knowledge Review session presented by the Research Administrators Certification Council (RACC). It reviews the content of the CPRA Exam to assist persons who are studying to take the exam in the future. This workshop is being offered by the RACC in collaboration with NCURA and is endorsed by RACC.
Learning Objectives
- Participants will be able to identify the four major sections of the Body of Knowledge.
- Participants will understand what areas in the Body of Knowledge require further review/study.
- Participants will learn to apply skills in registering for and successfully taking the CPRA Exam.
Speakers
- Suzanne Alstadt, DPA, CRA, CPRA, Senior Consultant, Attain Partners
- Cathy Le, Senior Research Administrator, University of Southern California
WS07: The NIH Grant Cycle: An Overview from RFA through Closeout
Sunday, Aug. 4 | 8:15a – 11:45a | Workshop
On paper, the complete NIH Grant Cycle can appear to be quite daunting, however with a general understanding of the processes involved, submitting, and managing NIH Grants can be fairly straight forward. In this workshop, we will review best practices for the different parts of the NIH Grant Cycle. We will start with a review of advanced RFAs, identify the different parts of the most common mistakes in submitting an NIH proposal, and review the Just-in-Time and award requirements. Now that we have our award, we will review annual reporting, subaward requirement/management for domestic and foreign subawards, and conclude with closeout. We will show our participants many resources available to them to make the NIH Grant Cycle a little bit easier to manage and challenge them with activities research administrators will encounter during an NIH Grant Cycle.
Learning Objectives
- Develop a better understanding of the different parts of the NIH Grant Cycle.
- Have an opportunity to have questions answered about NIH Grants.
- Learn more about new policies with the NIH including foreign subawards, data management plans, and many more.
- Learn tips and tricks when working with difficult issues through the Grant Cycle.
- Identify the resources available to the research administrator for submitting and managing NIH Grants.
Speakers
- Lindsey Demerritt, CRA, Manager, Attain Partners
- Bill Courtney, Director of Research Development and Administration, Washington University in St. Louis
- Kimberly Smith, Subaward Contract and Compliance Manager, Office of Sponsored Research and Award Administration, Oregon State University
Monday, August 5
Overcoming The Fear of the Unknown: Change Management Strategies for Research Administrators
Monday, Aug. 5 | 1:30p – 2:30p | Concurrent Session
Location: Lincoln West, Concourse Level
Is your institution implementing a new system, updating business processes, or updating your organizational structure? Projects like these can easily be derailed by fear and uncertainty if you arenít engaging stakeholders during the decision-making process, ultimately leading to failed implementations or low morale among your staff. What can you do to prevent these outcomes? This session will introduce change management strategies that will help prepare your stakeholders and lead them through the implementation process successfully.
Learning Objectives
- Recognize common reasons that employees may be resistant to change initiatives.
- Utilize change management strategies to address areas of resistance.
- Understand the importance of change management in successful project planning.
Speakers
- Kathleen Halley-Octa, MA, CRA, Manager, Attain Partners
- Ivonne Kalinski, Senior Consultant, Attain Partners
- Candice Ferguson, Associate Director, Research Training, Georgia State University
Assessing Organizational Effectiveness and Culture: Assuring Actionable Ideas
Monday, Aug. 5 | 4p – 5p | Concurrent Session
Location: Columbia 3&4, Terrace Level
The past three years have taken their toll on organizations testing the resilience of even high performing organizations. The “new normal” isn’t standardized yet with decisions and, in some cases, mandates to return to work made outside of our control that impact whether staff can remain fully remote or must return to the office at least on some level. For some, that can be a make or break situation. In some cases, offices have been decimated by the resulting resignations forcing leaders to overload the remaining staff who become burned out and leave, too, compounding the crisis. A senior panel will utilize a case study that yielded actionable recommendations by examining how the project moved from developing the objectives of an external assessment through the actual assessment process.
Learning Objectives
- Identify strategies for formulating a plan for an external assessment
- Recognize how to engage and empower front line employees in the process of innovation
Speakers
- Susan Sedwick, PhD, CRA, CSM, Senior Consulting Specialist, Attain Partners
- Shacey Temperly, Principal, Attain Partners
- Lamar Oglesby, Executive Director, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Tuesday, August 6
Fitness Trifecta – A Non De-Minimus Workout
Tuesday, Aug. 6 | 6:15a – 7a | Networking Event
Location: Concourse, Concourse Level
Join Gil Tran and two other instructors for a fitness trifecta—Zumba, kickboxing, and yoga!
Whether this is your first Zumba/Kick Boxing experience, or you are an expert, this workout is for you. And our yoga stretching at the end is also for everyone. Join the fun. The early bird gets the endorphins!
FOLLOW-UP DISCUSSION GROUP: Assessing Organizational Effectiveness and Culture: Assuring Actionable Ideas
Tuesday, Aug. 6 | 8:15a – 9:45a | Discussion Group
Location: Dupont, Terrace Level
In this follow-up discussion, you will have the opportunity to share how research administration is structured at your institution, and comment on the benefits, challenges, and risks with each model for division of roles and responsibilities.
Speakers
- Susan Sedwick, PhD, CRA, CSM, Senior Consulting Specialist, Attain Partners
- Shacey Temperly, Principal, Attain Partners
- Lamar Oglesby, Executive Director, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
The Final Reveal – Extreme Makeover: Uniform Guidance 2 CFR Edition
Tuesday, Aug. 6 | 8:15a – 9:45a | Concurrent Session
Location: IBR East, Concourse Level
On April 04, 2024, the Biden-Harris Administration announced the publication of the final revisions to the OMB’s Uniform Guidance 2 CFR. It proclaimed that “these changes will allow agencies and recipients of Federal funds to focus more time and money on delivering meaningful results for the American people.” See links below.
Specifically, OMB states the following objectives for the current round of revisions: “(1) incorporating statutory requirements and administration priorities; (2) reducing agency and recipient burden; (3) clarifying sections that recipients or agencies have interpreted in different ways; and (4) rewriting applicable sections in plain language, improving flow, and addressing inconsistent use of terms.”
*The Biden-Harris Administration Finalizes Guidance to Make Grants More Accessible and Transparent for Families, Communities, and Small Businesses | OMB | The White House
*Final 2 CFR Guidance – 4.3.2024 – Pre-Publication Version (cfo.gov)
On-demand Webinar
Gain instant access to Gil’s on-demand session discussing the policy updates: The Final Reveal – Extreme Makeover: Uniform Guidance 2 CFR 200 Edition.
Learning Objectives
Gil Tran, Senior Specialist Leader at Attain Partners and former Senior Policy Analyst with the OMB, will discuss the general purpose of the Uniform Guidance 2 CFR and dig deep into the following questions:
- What are the major revisions in the final publication?
- How will the revisions impact the administration of your research grants?
- What are the strategies and timelines for implementation?
Speaker
- Gil Tran, Senior Specialist Leader, Attain Partners
Hot Topics in Indirect Cost Rates
Tuesday, Aug. 6 | 1:15p – 2:15p | Concurrent Session
Location: Lincoln West, Concourse Level
Uniform Guidance 2 CFR Part 2 Revisions, Covid-19, indirect cost rate extensions, resource capabilities, shrinking budgets, growth in sponsored funding all require that administrators consider the investment in research and the impact on future years indirect cost rates. More than ever before, colleges and universities are planning for the next rate proposal and examining techniques to identify and optimize cost allocation to benefitting activities. In this session, we quickly examine the considerations of new initiatives to improve costing processes.
Participants will want to have some knowledge in how indirect cost proposals are developed, responding to inquiries from Federal negotiators and negotiating their indirect cost rates. It will also be helpful for attendees to have some familiarity with 2 CFR Part 2 and how it impacts their institution with respect to the indirect cost proposal and negotiation.
Learning Objectives
- With active participation of attendees, this session will:
- Offer updates on the 2 CFR Part 2 revisions, current indirect cost proposal and negotiation issues
- Provide suggestions for enhancing their indirect cost rate, improving processes and practices to minimize questions/challenges from Federal negotiators
- Share recent experiences institutions have had in negotiating their indirect cost rates.
Speakers
- Mark Davis, Managing Partner, Attain Partners
- Gil Tran, Senior Specialist Leader, Attain Partners
“The Write Stuff” – Writing for NCURA
Tuesday, Aug. 6 | 1:15p – 2:15p | Concurrent Session
Location: Columbia 8, Terrace Level
NCURA is known for its great meetings, but equally so for its valuable publications that provide a complementary mechanism for sharing ideas and advancing the profession of research administration. This session will offer guidance on writing for and getting published in NCURA’s two marquee publications – NCURA Magazine and Research Management Review. Come learn about how you can grow yourself and others by writing for NCURA.
Speakers
- Kathleen Halley-Octa, MA, CRA, Manager, Attain Partners
- Dean Gerstein, Director of Sponsored Research, Pomona College
Remote Work Impact and Navigating the New Environment
Tuesday, Aug. 6 | 1:15p – 2:15p | Discussion Group
Location: Gunston, Terrace Level
This session is going to be mainly about the impact of remote work on the F&A rate process. However, there is an application of remote work that participants should be made aware of. That is, what F&A rate should I be applying to awards where people are working off-site? What is the government’s view? Remote work has in many ways changed the way higher education institutions operate, particularly in the research and administration realms, creating new challenges and opportunities. Our presentation will be aimed at helping individuals at higher education institutions identify these challenges and opportunities. The discussion will first uncover the areas at higher education institutions that have been impacted the most by remote work. From there, we will discuss ways to analyze the impact of remote work on F&A costs, F&A recovery, and the important institution-specific factors to consider when preparing these analyses.
Speakers
- Wallace Davis, Partner, Attain Partners
- Julie Schwindt, Assistant VP, Finance & Administration, University of South Alabama
Uniform Guidance (UG) Updates – Open Forum Follow-up
Tuesday, Aug. 6 | 2:45p – 3:45p | Discussion Group
Location: Columbia 11&12, Terrace Level
A follow-up Discussion to the Concurrent Session held at 8:15a.
Speaker
- Gil Tran, Senior Specialist Leader, Attain Partners
Leveraging Employee Aptitudes to Deliver Excellence in Research Services (LEADERS)
Tuesday, Aug. 6 | 2:45p – 3:45p | Concurrent Session
Location: Columbia 3&4, Terrace Level
Employees, ideally, rise to the level of expectations set by leadership. But, leading a remote or hybrid team requires even more effort on the part of leaders to communicate expectations and assess outcomes. Plus, the loss of daily “face-to-face interactions” with remote workers makes it harder to build a sense of community and trust. Meanwhile, the competition for experienced research administrators is more fierce than ever so recruiting and retaining staff may depend on offering work location flexibility. Research tells us that money is a limited motivator and commodity. Great performers want to be recognized for their work, and not just with additional work. Well-defined career ladders, professional development opportunities, and autonomy and flexibility increase both professionalism and retention. Clear expectations and professional development opportunities that can lead to advancement are the cornerstones for research administration units that are thriving.
Learning Objectives
- Identify effective and cost-efficient mechanisms to develop and retain remote, hybrid and onsite staff.
- How to convince skeptical senior leadership that remote and hybrid workforces are effective.
- Identify motivating factors behind excellent research administration performance.
Speakers
- Susan Sedwick, PhD, CRA, CSM, Senior Consulting Specialist, Attain Partners
- Cynthia Hope, Associate Vice President Research Administration, Georgia Institute of Technology
Unlocking Research Efficiency: How Attain Partners Empowers Your Research Enterprise
Tuesday, Aug. 6 | 2:45p – 3:45p | Concurrent Session
Location: Cardozo, Terrace Level
Attain Partners offers a comprehensive suite of services designed to empower your research enterprise. Our session unveils how we can streamline grant management, navigate complex regulations, optimize research administration processes and technology, and train your staff. Join us to discover how Attain Partners can propel your research goals and make a lasting impact.
Speakers
- Mark Davis, Managing Partner, Attain Partners
- Shacey Temperly, Principal, Attain Partners
Where are the New Grads: A Discussion About Effective Recruitment Strategies for Entry-level Positions
Tuesday, Aug. 6 | 2:45p – 3:45p | Discussion Group
Location: Embassy, Terrace Level
This is an open discussion that touch on the challenges of hiring and retaining new Research Administrators. Probing questions that will asked of the audience: What are the different interview tactics, key characteristics/personality traits of a new Research administrator? How do you retain the new hires?
Speakers
- Lindsey Demerritt, CRA, Manager, Attain Partners
- Candice Ferguson, Associate Director, Research Training, Georgia State University
Cost Sharing: Turning an Obligation into an Opportunity
Tuesday, Aug. 6 | 4p – 5p | Concurrent Session
Location: Columbia 11&12, Terrace Level
Cost sharing can be an enigma to many new research administrators, and it can be a headache to many seasoned research administrators. What is it, is it really that daunting, and how can we turn this obligation into an opportunity? This presentation will help attendees define cost sharing, identify the types of cost sharing, explain ways we can meet cost sharing requirements, and touch on best practices and experiences from the presenter’s time in research administration—including a discussion of understanding subrecipient cost sharing obligations.
Learning Objectives
- This session will help participants define cost sharing, identify the different types of cost sharing, explain ways we can meet cost sharing requirements, and touch on best practices and experiences.
- Participants will benefit from a basic understanding of research admin. This builds upon your knowledge base to tackle a complex subject. Participants who want a detailed review and problem-solving solutions for cost sharing will also find this helpful.
Speakers
- Jeff Derr, CRA, Specialist Leader, Attain Partners
- Heather Mattern, Director, Office of Business, Finance, and Facilities, University of Maryland
How to Transfer an NIH Award in 73 Easy Steps
Tuesday, Aug. 6 | 4p – 5p | Discussion Group
Location: Fairchild, Terrace Level
How many of us have sat down to work on a transfer application only to find out that it was due 2 months ago? Or that the relinquishing institution still has not filed the relinquishment statement? Or that the PI is now mid-move with a spouse and kids and has ZERO time to really participate in this process (understandably)? This session will work through the overarching process of facilitating an NIH transfer application, primarily from the receiving institution’s vantage, from the point where we learn that the faculty member is joining our institution to the point of submission of the application package.
Speakers
- Lindsey Demerritt, CRA, Manager, Attain Partners
- Cheryl Anderson, CRA, Director, Sponsored Programs Administration, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Wednesday, August 7
What You Need to Know About Managing Up and Making It Work for You
Wednesday, Aug. 7 | 8:30a – 9:30a | Concurrent Session
Location: Jefferson, Concourse Level
Managing up is a term that is often brought up in the workplace, but it’s not something that’s regularly taught and it doesn’t come naturally to a lot of people. Have you ever found yourself in a position needing to manage up, but you just didn’t know how? In this interactive session, we will discuss the importance of managing up, how to do so under different leadership styles, and how it ultimately aids in career development.
Learning Objectives
- Understanding the fundamentals and importance of managing up
- Learn strategies to manage up under different types of leadership
- Make managing up work for you
Speakers
- Courtney Swaney, Principal, Attain Partners
- Elizabeth Garcia, Pre Award Sr. Manager, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
- Katy Gathron, Senior Research Administration Associate, Baylor College of Medicine
Communication for Collaboration – Fostering Teamwork and Communication Between Research Teams and Units
Wednesday, Aug. 7 | 8:30a – 9:30a | Concurrent Session
Location: Fairchild, Terrace Level
Communication is the foundation for building relationships. Where and how do we start? How does one build symbiotic relationships between central offices and departments? How do I problem-solve when I feel like my central and divisional offices speak different languages?!?! This discussion group will focus on how to communicate to build relationships, ideally resulting in teamwork and tasks being accomplished within your immediate team and across the organization.
Speakers
- Jeff Derr, CRA, Specialist Leader, Attain Partners
- Jessica McDonough, Award Manager, Yale University
