eLearning Modules

These modules provide basic information and follow 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)
    • See also the 2023 Navigate Webinar: Cost Sharing: If you must, here are important things to know (90 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)
  • Senior/Key Personnel: Definition and Considerations - U-M definition of "senior/key personnel," and considerations related to senior/key personnel on the Proposal Approval Form (PAF) and the Award record in eRPM. (10-15 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 - For research administrators (RAs) who are new to Department of Defense sponsored project administration, introduces best practices and key terminology (15-20 min). Additional Resource: DoD Common Terms and Definitions job aid.
• Cost Accounting Standards - Overview the Facilities and Administrative (F&A) cost rate proposal, federal regulations, and compliance. Includes 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 RAs. (20-30 min)
• Stewardship - Overview of the role stewardship plays in research administration and ways RAs can practice good stewardship. (10-15 min)
• NEW! Outgoing Subawards: This elearning module covers outgoing subawards, the roles and responsibilities related to outgoing subawards in the pre- and post-award phases, the processes and requirements for them. (90 min)
• NEW! Foreign Subawards: This elearning module covers the key requirements for establishing foreign subawards.  (35-40 min)
• NEW! Research Core Financial Management: An overview of Research Cores, detailing their definition, functions, financial setup, management, and inactivation. Additionally, it includes resources and contacts for further support.  (70-75 min)