E-ssentials eLearning Modules

These modules provide basic information that follows the workflow and business process of the sponsored research project lifecycle. 

• DEVELOP PROPOSAL
  • Proposal Prep and Submission - Overview of the proposal-development and submission process. (15-20 min)
     
  • Cost of All Kinds - Types of Direct Cost and Indirect Costs, including salaries, effort, supplies, equipment, travel, and more. (15-20 min)
     
  • Cost Sharing - Types of cost sharing that might be included in a sponsored project or proposal. (10-15 min)
     
  • Understanding Effort - Effort in a sponsor budget, appointment types, effort certification, salary recovery and salary caps. (15-20 min)
     
  • Effort Certification - Effort certification process: why/how/when effort must be reported and certified, consequences of non-compliance. (15-20 min)
     
• MANAGE PROJECT
  • Financial Monitoring - Primary U-M reporting systems to monitor project financial health, consequences of non-compliance. (20-30 min)
     
  • Award Modification - Provides an overview of common post-award changes, RTCs, and actions/ modifications. (10-15 min)
     
  • Cost Transfers - Provides an overview of cost-transfer guidelines, cost-transfer justifications, and the process for completing. (10-15 min)
     
• CLOSEOUT PROJECT
  • Pre-Closeout Analysis - Analysis of common pre-closeout reports and general tips, strategies, and resources to assist you. (20-30 min)
     
  • Project Closeout - Builds on concepts in the Pre-Closeout Analysis module: analysis of Uniform Guidance and Financial Status Reports. (20-30 min)
     
  • Financial Status Report (FSR) - Information covered only in the Financial Status Report portion of the Project Closeout module. (10-15 min)

• Introduction to Department of Defense (DoD) Sponsored Projects - This course introduces best practices and key terminology for research administrators who are new to Department of Defense sponsored project administration. (15-20 min). Additional Resource: DoD Common Terms and Definitions job aid.
• Cost Accounting Standards - Overview of the Facilities and Administrative (F&A) cost rate proposal, federal regulations, and compliance. Other topics include: direct and indirect costs, class codes and indirect cost recovery excluded expenditures (ICRX), the effort reporting process, and the annual space survey. (60-75 min)
• Sponsor Reporting: Research Administrator Best Practices for Supporting Compliance - Overview of sponsor reporting requirements, the importance of compliance, and ways the RA can assist the PI in fulfilling reporting obligations to the sponsor to avoid potential consequences. (10-15 mins) 
• Project/Grant Chartfield Overview - Review of the Project/Grant Chartfield in M-Pathways, with focus on information related to sponsored projects. (20-30 min)
• Uniform Guidance Cost Principles - An overview of UG cost principles and managing UG expenses throughout the research project lifecycle. (10-15 min)
• Monitoring Capital Equipment - Learn ways the RA can assist the project team in complying with sponsor and U-M requirements related to equipment. (10-15 min)
• GSRA & Postdoc Appointments - Overview of grad student and postdoctoral appointments for sponsored projects relevant to research administrators. (20-30 min)
• Stewardship - Overview of the role stewardship plays in research administration and ways RAs can practice good stewardship. (10-15 min)