Sponsored Operations
The Sponsored Operations Office at the University of West Georgia exists to help faculty and staff obtain external support for their research, instructional, service and artistic activities. This support takes the form of grants and contracts (as opposed to gifts or endowments).
Faculties' needs and ideas are communicated to the agencies that sponsor these activities by proposals, so Sponsored Operations' mission is to help prepare the most competitive proposal for the most appropriate sponsoring agency.
Sponsored Operations is involved in all phases of the proposal and award process. There are three phases:
Sponsored Operations has specific kinds of assistance it can offer in all phases.
The Pre-proposal Phase
The pre-proposal phase begins with a faculty or staff member's scholarly/creative agenda. We would like to become involved before an individual has a specific project in mind. Identifying how external funding can further one's goals is the beginning. If any part of your agenda contains the question "If I only had more (equipment, time, staff support, supplies etc.)" we may be able to help. We can:
- Help focus you agenda into a realistic and manageable "project" with a reasonable chance for external funding
- Examine your credentials and experience to both help find a fit with funding agencies and identify activities you may want to pursue before seeking external funding
- Aggressively search for appropriate funding opportunities
- Identify possible collaborators and/or consultants whose involvement may strengthen your proposal
- Help establish a realistic time line for proposal writing and submission
The Submission Phase
Preparing a proposal for submission is marketing your idea and skills to an agency who is looking for someone to help further their goals and priorities within the level of support they are making available. At the outset, it is always necessary to answer the following questions:
1. What problem am I addressing?
2. Why is it a problem?
3. Is anyone else currently researching the problem?
4. Why are current efforts inadequate?
5. What are some suggested alternatives?
6. What are the implications of these proposed alternatives?
7. What is different about these proposed alternatives?
8. What is the purpose of the proposed project?
9. Does the project meet the needs of the target agency?
We can:
- Help frame answers to the above questions
- Facilitate communication between the investigator and the funding agency
- Monitor compliance with both the funding agency and university
- Help construct a realistic budget
- Provide editorial and design assistance
The Post-Award Phase
Although conduct of the funded project and complying with relevant statutes is ultimately the responsibility of the principal investigator/project director, Sponsored Operations will continue to play a role. We will:
- Work with you to develop a calendar of financial and program reports
- Notify you in advance of their due date
- When necessary, assist in adapting projects to unforeseen changes and constraints
- Assist in preparing revised and continuation budgets and applications
- Assist in publicizing your success
- Maintain a master file of all project related correspondence
- Assist with grant closure when your project is completed
- Immediately start facilitating planning of how future work can be built upon your present success
Why Get Involved?
The whole gamut of research, instructional and service activities can be enhanced by external funding. For the individual, external funding can minimally:- Contribute to professional growth and recognition
- Satisfy intellectual curiosity
- Improve salary and promotion prospects
- Provide funding for graduate and undergraduate assistants
- Enhance the status of your department and university
- Provide equipment and facilities applicable to further projects
- Form a network of clients and colleagues outside the university
- Allow you to share the excitement of discovery with you students
Receiving external funding is a realistic goal. Persistence, patience and planning usually pay off.
