NEW PROGRAM PLANNING FORM
X Concept Proposal
College:
Full Proposal
Graduate Studies
Program Title:
Research Administration
Department/School/Unit:
MSA
Dean/Senior Officer Signature:
Submission Date:
November 11, 2010
Check one of the following:
Degree
Major
Minor
Graduate option
Graduate emphasis
X Concentration
X Graduate certificate
Doctoral program
Proposed date of enrollment for first class: Fall 2011
I.
Description of Proposed New Program, including objectives and activities.
This proposal seeks to create a new concentration and graduate certificate in the MSA degree—
Research Administration Research administration is a vast and expanding field that involves scientific methods of research, good clinical practices, regulatory guidelines that protect human
subjects, and sponsored programs.
A research administrator’s main task is to facilitate the research that takes place at all types of
institutions, synthesize the data, and communicate the results effectively. Typical projects that
Research Administrators work on include: sponsored projects and programs, contracts and
grants, grants financial management, data and information gathering and synthesis, intellectual
property and technology transfer, regulatory compliance, ethics and Institutional Review Boards
(IRBs), and information services, among others.
The need for trained research administrators is growing. This concentration will allow students to
earn the experience and knowledge necessary to conduct investigations and gather and analyze
information pertaining to increasingly complex contemporary organizational issues. It will
provide students with the knowledge and skills required for effective research administration.
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Purpose
The purpose of the concentration is to provide an appropriate educational experience to Research
Administration professionals that will allow them to meet the growing data and informational
needs and demands in their respective organizations.
Objectives
1. To prepare students with a focus on Research Administration as that will provide a pathway for professionals to earn a Master’s degree at CMU.
2. To provide the academic and professional training that will enable our graduates to function and advance in the research administration profession.
3. To provide current, concise curriculum that will provide insight into the most recent developments in the field of research administration.
4. To provide a curriculum designed to give students practical experience in the research
administration field.
Courses to be offered
The MSA core courses focus on the general administration principles. The concentration courses
focus on the more specific skills required by research administration professionals. Courses will
be offered online and in a flexible format to meet the needs of students. Potential students will
come from a variety of backgrounds. The diversity in background will provide a rich
interdisciplinary learning environment in which our graduates can relate their personal realworld experiences with fellow students in a rigorous academic setting.
The courses included in this concentration are:
MSA Core (18 Credit Hours)
MSA 600 Foundations of Research Methods in Administration
MSA 601 Organizational Dynamics and Human Behavior
MSA 602 Financial Analysis, Planning and Control
MSA 603 Strategic Planning for the Administrator
MSA 604 Administration, Globalization and Multiculturalism
MSA 699 Applied Research Project in Administration
REQUIRED Courses (12 Credits)
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MSA 611 Contract Administration
MSA 612 Grants Fiscal Administration
MSA 613 Project Administration
MSA 614 Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues in Research Administration
ELECTIVES (6 Credits)
MSA 615 Sponsored Project Administration
MSA 616 The Practice of Research Administration
MSA 617 Clinical Research Administration
MSA 618 Administration of Health Science Services
MSA 621 Regulatory Compliance, Research Administration & the Law
MSA622 Facilities Administration and Cost
The courses included in this graduate certificate are:
REQUIRED Courses (12 Credits)
MSA 611 Contract Administration
MSA 612 Grants Fiscal Administration
MSA 613 Project Administration
MSA 614 Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues in Research Administration
ELECTIVES (6 Credits)
MSA 615 Sponsored Project Administration
MSA 616 The Practice of Research Administration
MSA 617 Clinical Research Administration
MSA 618 Administration of Health Science Services
MSA 621 Regulatory Compliance, Research Administration & the Law
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MSA622 Facilities Administration and Cost
II. Rationale for Program. Address each of the categories contained in the Guidelines for
Evaluating New Undergraduate and Master’s Programs (see CAD, Appendix B).
Doctoral Programs must address each criteria found in the Criteria for Development
of New Doctoral Programs (see CAD, Appendix F).
For CMU to achieve its mission, three goals have been identified that are in consonance with the
goals of the proposed concentration:
1. Advance and disseminate knowledge by stimulating and supporting research and creative
activities by students, faculty and staff; offer graduate programs in niche areas of faculty
strength that meet regional, state, national and international needs; use modern technologies
to enhance teaching, learning, research and administrative functions.
The idea of developing this concentration and graduate certificate originated from the feasibility
studies conducted by the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (OSRP) at the request of
National Council of University Research Administrators (NCURA). The OSRP recommended
the offering of a master’s degree in Research Administration by CMU. This proposal is based on
the OSRP’s recommendation to offer a master’s degree by CMU.
While the NCURA and the Society of Research Administrators (SRA) will continue to advance
the field of research administration through education and professional development programs,
they recommend that universities are better equipped to develop a master’s degree in Research
Administration.
In this niche area of Research administration, there are few educational institutions in the country that offer a master’s degree level courses. According to the National Council of Research
Administrators (NCURA) and the Atlantic Information Services (AIS), there is strong interest in
a graduate program in research administration. The NCURA provided a grant to CMU to develop a Research Administration concentration.
There is direct and indirect evidence suggesting significant employer need for formally trained
research administrators. The Certified Research Administrator (CRA) credential indicates that
employers seek employees with formal training in research administration. The CRA says that
the benefits of the Research Administration degree are: professional recognition; an indicator of
expertise; increased credibility with clients; increased opportunity for employment; advancement
opportunities; personal satisfaction; and serving as a role model for others.
2. Similar Programs in other Institutions
In addition, there is no similar program in the state of Michigan. In nearby states, Cleveland
State University in Ohio, offers a graduate certificate in research administration, which does not
specifically address the varied educational topics germane to the field of research administration.
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Indiana University and Purdue University in Indianapolis, Indiana, offers Health Sciences and
Health Administration programs through its School of Informatics and School of Environmental
and Public Affairs. Still the emphasis is on health related research. Students are trained to work
in academic medical centers, research sites, major corporations, contract research organization,
or independent consultant firms. Furthermore, other institutions around the country that offer
online master’s degree in Clinical Research Administration programs. Institutions like, Walden
University, Drexel University, and George Washington University, their curricula focus on the
scientific methods of clinical research, good clinical practices, and the regulatory guidelines that
protect human subjects. In each instance, the curriculum is geared towards students
contemplating to work in health care industry or with emphasis on research methods and clinical
trial management. At the Medical University of South Carolina’s program, for example, the
curriculum is strongly oriented towards clinical settings. In contrast, the CMU MSA
concentration is being designed to prepare our students entirely online for employment in the
broader field of research administration as practiced in universities, colleges, federal granting
agencies, non-profit and for-profit institutions.
3. MSA and the new Research Administration Concentration
This concentration will be built on the MSA core courses and newly developed courses oriented
towards general research administration. The graduate certificate will be built on the newly
developed research administration courses. The quality of the courses and the overall
concentration and graduate certificate will be assessed similar to other MSA concentrations
utilizing tools such as examinations, case studies, research papers, and on-line presentations.
Faculty who teach these courses will be approved through the current criteria used by the MSA
program to approve instructors. Students admitted into this concentration will be qualified
students who have the skills and the career interest in studying research administration; thus a
background of experience and training in the field will provide a relatively high quality student
from the outset. The online delivery format provides an option for self-disciplined and selfdirected students to pursue the program. We have learned that working adult students need to be
able to take classes on a flexible schedule in order to maintain a balance in their professional,
personal and student lives. Towards that end, our classes will be offered on a weekly schedule
that accommodates the unpredictability of life for busy adults.
The Research Administration concentration and graduate certificate are being developed as a
result of representations made by the NCURA. According to a survey it did of its membership in
2008, there is a strong demand for a master’s degree in Research Administration. Of the 885
respondents, over 500 expressed an interest in an on-line graduate degree in this area.
The six (6) core courses have already been developed and will not require any additional
resources. However, additional resources that will be required to develop the four (4) required
courses and the six (6) elective courses for use on the concentration and the graduate certificate
are already built into the MSA and ProfEd’s budget funded by tuition revenue. Qualified
instructors have been identified to teach the courses. The Library has all of the necessary
resources to support this concentration. CMU has both student learning assessment and
program-level assessment in place. This new concentration will utilize the same rigor of
assessment.
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Additionally, this concentration meets the Principles of Good Practice in Adult Degree
Completion Programs stated by the North Central Association. The College of Graduate Studies
will take the lead role in marketing the new concentration.
III. Enrollment and Performance Measures.
A. For each year, estimate the total number of students who will be enrolled. Indicate
whether they are likely to be full-time or part-time students.
20
30
Year 1
40
Year 3
Year 2
50
Year 4
B. How will the effectiveness of this program be assessed?
Current assessment methodology used at CMU.
I.
Cost: Estimate expenses and identify as base (B) or one-time (1T).
YEAR
Faculty FTE (number)
1
0
Support staff
a) number
b) type
c) cost
Other compensation
(number and cost)
including GSA
College Work Study
(CWS) (number and
cost)
0 **
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Library Costs*:
materials and electronic
access
Supplies and
equipment
a) description
b) cost
Remodeling and space
a) description
b) cost
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
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2
0
3
4
0
0
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* Work with appropriate bibliographer to estimate cost.
** Support staff part of ongoing CID activities.
Provide a rationale for each of the costs (e.g., Why will x faculty be needed?).
All costs of developing and operating this program are built into the existing MSA and ProfEd
operating budgets and funded by tuition revenue.
II.
Projected Revenue and Expenditures.
Year 1
Program Revenues****
Program Expenditures
Course Development*
$165,240
Provided by
ProfEd budget
Year 2
$247,860
Provided by
ProfEd budget
Year 3
Year 4
$330,480
$413,100
Provided by
Provided by
ProfEd budget ProfEd budget
$48,000.00
Online instruction**
$17,910 $35,820
$35,820
$35,820
Identify Sources of
Funds Needed for Each Tuition/ProfEd Tuition
Tuition
Tuition
Year***
*:One time expenditure per course ($4800) X 10 new courses (Provided from ProfEd’s budget)
** Online instruction per course ($2985); (paid by unit/department)
** *Note: Examples of sources of funding would be program revenues, college reserves, grants,
etc.
**** Revenue ($459/cr. 18 cr hr/20 Students) $1377/course x 6 = 8262; 8262 X 20 = $165,240
Number of students: Year 1=20, Year 2=30, Year 3=40, Year 4=50
Please provide rationale for above projections.
Assuming: tuition = $1377 ($459/credit hour) per student per course in year 1, with
approximately no increases in subsequent years. On average, students will enroll in six courses
in their first year, and six courses in their second year. Expenses cover faculty contracts and
expenses, as well as program development, monitoring and updating as needed.
III.
New Resources
A. Faculty FTE
New FTE positions to be created with:
Increased enrollment
Reallocation within college
Grants/gifts
Reallocation between colleges
Reallocation within department/unit/school Other
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Please elaborate on the above proposed reallocation. What is to be reduced?
N/A
What impact will this have on that unit/department/school/program/college?
N/A
B. Other staff position
New staff positions to be created with:
Increased enrollment
Reallocation within college
Grants/gifts
Reallocation between colleges
Reallocation within department/unit/school Other
Please elaborate on the above proposed reallocation. What is to be reduced?
N/A
What impact will this have on that unit/department/school/program/college?
N/A
C. CWS, other compensations (include GSA), library costs, supplies and equipment,
and remodeling and space will come from:
Increased enrollment
Reallocation within college
Grants/gifts
Reallocation between colleges
Reallocation within department/unit/school Other
Please elaborate on the above proposed reallocation. What is to be reduced?
N/A
What impact will this have on that unit/department/school/program/college, the university?
N/A
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