Navigate Training Program

Course offerings

All Navigate courses are designed by a team of highly-experienced U-M research administrators and central office staff in collaboration with training specialists from the Navigate team. 

Based on research and survey results, the Navigate program is designed to provide fundamental information for those who are newcomers in research administration and to provide in-depth analysis and specialized knowledge for more seasoned research administrators.

Navigate courses are typically offered in the Fall and Spring. Navigate webinars and eLearning modules are available year-round. More information on each of these offerings follows below.

• Navigate instructor-led courses. Navigate instructor-led courses include a lecture component, experiential activities, discussions and Q&A. Navigate courses are delivered via Zoom meetings and participants are given access to an accompanying Canvas course to locate and download course materials, resources, and job aids. 
• Navigate blended courses. Navigate blended courses, which combine online learning through Canvas activities with a live virtual instructor-led session. The online content introduces key concepts and provides the essential foundation learners need before attending the live session. The virtual instructor-led session then focuses on applying the information learned online through practical activities and discussion.
• Navigate online courses. Navigate online courses, which are offered fully online through Canvas. These courses include a combination of informative pages, videos, interactive activities, and knowledge-check quizzes to support learning.
• Navigate webinars. Webinar sessions are offered year-round on a variety of topics related to research administration. These live sessions are delivered via Zoom meetings and provide opportunities to learn about key processes, updates and best practices. Sessions are also recorded and made available for later viewing on the Navigate Program MiVideo Channel. 
• Navigate eLearning modules. A collection of self-paced eLearning modules covering a variety of essential topics related to research administration at U-M. These modules are available year-round via My LINC. 

All course offerings are announced via the RAP/RAPid newsletter and listed on the Search All Training page. Sign up for the RAP to receive future course announcements. 

Navigate Program training offerings and materials are available to research administrators at U-M. Some instructor-led courses have additional technical or experiential requirements. Specific information can be found on the course description pages under Search All Training.

Navigate instructors

All instructor-led courses are taught by highly-experienced U-M research administrators and central office staff who have volunteered to teach on topics with which they have extensive knowledge and experience.

Navigate: Fundamentals

Navigate: Fundamentals is an instructor-led course developed for professionals who are new to research administration, typically those with zero to two years of experience at any institution.

It provides foundational training early in their careers, when support is especially important. Research administrators are often asked to manage complex business, compliance and financial responsibilities with limited prior experience. Offering structured training during their first months in the role helps reduce both faculty and administrative burden.

The course was created in response to extensive research and survey feedback identifying a strong need for training for new research administrators who support faculty and the broader research community. Its design was developed in collaboration with representatives from ORSP, Sponsored Programs and schools/colleges/units across campuses. 

Participants will gain a foundational understanding of research administration, the research enterprise at the University of Michigan, and the high-level tasks involved at each stage of the sponsored project lifecycle.

The Fundamentals course is offered twice per year: once in the fall and once in the winter/spring. Learn more about current offerings on the Navigate: Fundamentals course page.

Other Navigate courses include:

• Budgeting Basics for Sponsored Projects (blended)
• Advanced Budgeting: Task-Based Budgets (virtual instructor-led)
• Uniform Guidance Cost Principles (online)

Cancellations and missed sessions

Individuals accepted into a course but who are unable to attend should notify [email protected] as soon as possible. 

If an individual misses a session due to unforeseen circumstances, the Navigate team will work with that person to make up the session at a future offering.

Certificates of achievement

Participants who complete all requirements for an instructor-led course, blended course, online course or eLearning module receive a “Certificate of Achievement.” This certificate is available in My LINC under the Quick Links > Training Transcript section.

Suggestions and volunteering

In addition, the program is always looking for volunteers to serve in various capacities (instructors, content contributors, committee members, etc.), so please contact Navigate if interested.