Research Administration Survey Results
Table of Contents
Demographics of Responses ................................................................................................................................................... 2
Type of Employee................................................................................................................................................................ 2
Length of Service ................................................................................................................................................................. 2
College/Division .................................................................................................................................................................. 3
Which Research Administration services do you interact with? ........................................................................................ 3
Pre-Award ............................................................................................................................................................................... 4
What action(s) can Research Administration take to improve Pre-Award services and processes? ................................. 5
Research Accounting Services (formerly Post-Award)............................................................................................................ 6
What action(s) can Research Administration take to improve Research Accounting Services processes and services? .. 7
Research Administration Compliance ..................................................................................................................................... 8
What action(s) can Research Administration take to improve Compliance service and processes? ................................. 8
Research Administration Support ........................................................................................................................................... 9
Do you find the roles and responsibilities clear for the following players throughout the Research process? ................. 9
Is there a liaison in your college/division who assists you with research administration processes? ............................. 10
Do you have someone in your department who assists you with research administration processes? ......................... 10
How often do you interact with your college/division liaison? ........................................................................................ 11
How often do you interact with your department liaison? .............................................................................................. 11
Office of Research Communications ..................................................................................................................................... 12
Please rate your level of satisfaction with the following items related to the Office of Research communications. ...... 12
Do you access the Office of Research website for information and/or procedures? ...................................................... 12
Please rate your level of satisfaction with the following items related to the Office of Research website. .................... 13
What information and/or procedures do you access on the Office of Research website?.............................................. 13
How often do you reference those topics on the website? ............................................................................................. 14
Do you think there is any information missing from the Office of Research website? .................................................... 14
Have you received the Office of Research newsletter? .................................................................................................... 15
Do you access any newsletter articles for further reading? ............................................................................................. 15
Do you find the newsletter useful and insightful? ............................................................................................................ 16
What more/less would you like to see in the newsletter? ............................................................................................... 16
Office of Research Customer Service .................................................................................................................................... 17
Please rate your level of satisfaction with the following items related to the Office of Research customer service. ..... 17
What actions can the Office of Research take to improve customer service? ................................................................. 17
Demographics of Responses
Type of Employee
Student
2%
Professional Staff
44%
Faculty
53%
Post Doc
1%
Length of Service
Less than 1 year
8%
1-2 years
17%
More than 5 years
58%
3-5 years
17%
CoM
None of the Above
14%
Pre-Award
32%
Compliance
25%
Research Accounting Services
29%
Sch of Law
Goodwin Clg of Prof Studies
Ucomm
Pres Office
OGC
Govt & Comm Rel
Corp Rel & Econ Dev
Sch of Entrepreneurship
Honors College
Ctr for Hosp & Sport Mgmt
DUO
Univ & Comm Partner
Inst Adv
St. Chris
EVP of Finance
Provost's Office
EMSS
ANS
LeBow
SOE
COMAD
ABS
Biomed
SPH
CCI
CNHP
COE
COAS
College/Division
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
Which Research Administration services do you interact with?
Pre-Award
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
I know who my Pre-Award Administrator is Research provides adequate training sessions
and support for COEUS Lite
Strongly Agree
Agree
My Pre-Award Administrator is
knowledgeable and helpful regarding the
proposal submission process
Disagree
My Pre-Award Administrator effectively
communicates with me throughout the PreAward process
Strongly Disagree
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
The COEUS Lite routing process to obtain
required approvals is smooth and efficient
I am satisfied with the length of time it takes Research provides appropriate assistance with
to negotiate my award, license, materials
finding funding opportunities
transfer agreement (MTA), non-disclosure
agreement (NDA), or other non-financial
contracts
Strongly Agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
I am satisfied with the COEUS Lite system
What action(s) can Research Administration take to improve Pre-Award services and processes?
Most common responses:
 Improve COEUS (technical features and processes related to COEUS)
 Improve processes
o Provide better/more timely follow-up/turnaround
o Streamline processes
o Be more proactive
o Increase transparency
 Provide more assistance/support
 Too much turnover with Pre-Award administrations: no knowledge transfer, don’t know who contact is
 Improve communications
 Provide more training opportunities and materials (user guides, FAQs, checklists)
Research Accounting Services (formerly Post-Award)
100
80
60
40
20
0
The overall transaction and approval
processes are efficient
I am satisfied with the length of time it takes I am satisfied with the length of time it takes Bills are consistently submitted timely to the
to set up grants/funds
to complete financial transactions and
sponsoring agency
approvals
Strongly Agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
The process to bill the sponsor is efficient
The process to close an award with the
sponsor is clear and easy to follow
Strongly Agree
Agree
100
80
60
40
20
0
The expenditure/report statements provided I am satisfied with the Web*Financials tool
by my Post-Award Administrator are accurate
and timely
Strongly Agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
The process to close an award with the
sponsor is efficient
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
I am satisfied with the Maximus Effort
Reporting System (ERS)
What action(s) can Research Administration take to improve Research Accounting Services processes and
services?
Most common responses:
 Streamline/improve processes (fund set up, salary redistribution, labor distribution, close-out)
 More timely processing/follow-up
 Implement better accounting system/improve Web*Financials
 Provide more reports that are distributed regularly
 Improve staff knowledge
 Improve communication (frequency, tone)
 Provide more trainings for departments (processes, Web*Finance, flow carts, documentation)
 Standardize roles, processes, and record keeping so grant files are maintained consistently across administrators
Research Administration Compliance
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
The export control process is clear and easy I am satisfied with the length of time it takes I am satisfied with the amount of support I The Conflict of Interest (COI) process is clear
to understand
to complete the export control process
receive regarding the export control process
and easy to follow
Strongly Agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
I am satisfied with the length of time it takes
to complete the Conflict of Interest (COI)
process
The effort reporting process is clear and
efficient
Strongly Agree
Agree
Disagree
I am satisfied with the length of time it takes
to certify effort reports
Strongly Disagree
What action(s) can Research Administration take to improve Compliance service and processes?
Most common responses:
 Increase efficiency for effort reporting
 Streamline/improve processes
 Maintain database for COI and update once per calendar year rather than with every submission (if changes occur, complete prior to one year)
 More timeline processing
Research Administration Support
Do you find the roles and responsibilities clear for the following players throughout the Research process?
250
200
150
100
50
0
I clearly understand my responsibilities in the
Research process
I clearly understand my college/division
liaison's responsibilities in the
Research process
Strongly Agree
Agree
I clearly understand my PI's
responsibilities in the Research process
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
180
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
I clearly understand my Research Accounting
Services contact's responsibilities in
the Research process
I clearly understand my department
liaison's responsibilities in the
Research process
Strongly Agree
Agree
Disagree
I clearly understand my Research compliance
contact's responsibilities in the
Research process
Strongly Disagree
I clearly understand my Pre-Award Research
contact's responsibilities in the
Research proces
Is there a liaison in your college/division who assists you with research administration processes?
I don't know
34%
Yes
50%
No
16%
Do you have someone in your department who assists you with research administration processes?
I don't know
3%
No
20%
Yes
77%
How often do you interact with your college/division liaison?
Never
11%
Daily
15%
2-3 times a week
8%
Less than once a
month
27%
Once a week
9%
2-3 times a month
13%
Once a month
17%
How often do you interact with your department liaison?
Never
3%
Daily
25%
Less than once a
month
12%
Once a month
11%
2-3 times a week
18%
2-3 times a month
20%
Once a week
11%
Office of Research Communications
Please rate your level of satisfaction with the following items related to the Office of Research
communications.
200
180
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
The Office of Research effectively communicates changes in
processes and regulations
I know whom to contact for specific Research questions
Strongly Agree
Agree
Disagree
I am pleased with the amount and quality of training
sessions provided by Research
Strongly Disagree
Do you access the Office of Research website for information and/or procedures?
No
41%
Yes
59%
Please rate your level of satisfaction with the following items related to the Office of Research website.
200
180
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
I utilize the Research website to assist me in I am easily able to find the information that I The Research website provides useful tools
finding research administration related
require on the Research website
and information
information
Strongly Agree
Agree
Disagree
I am able to easily search for funding
opportunities
Strongly Disagree
What information and/or procedures do you access on the Office of Research website?
250
200
150
100
50
0
Policies and
procedures
Forms and
templates
Office of
COEUS Lite
Find your
Research staff information or Program
listing
access
Administrator
Training
offerings
Pre-Award
services
Funding
opportunities
Research
Accounting
(Post-Award
Services)
Financial
compliance
services
News and
events
Other
How often do you reference those topics on the website?
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
Policies and
procedures
Funding
opportunities
Daily
Training
offerings
COEUS Lite
Office of
information or Research staff
access
listing
2-3 Times a Week
Once a Week
News and
events
Find your
Program
Administrator
2-3 Times a Month
Forms and
templates
Once a Month
Pre-Award
services
Research
Accounting
(Post-Award)
Services
Less than Once a Month
Do you think there is any information missing from the Office of Research website?
Most common responses:
 Clear policies and procedures
 Compliance training needs
 Research Accounting activity documentation
 Step-by-step guides: what forms to complete and when
 Improve organization/navigation of website
 Out-of-date information exists on website
Financial
compliance
services
Never
Other
Have you received the Office of Research newsletter?
No
30%
Yes
70%
Do you access any newsletter articles for further reading?
No
53%
Yes
47%
Do you find the newsletter useful and insightful?
No
41%
Yes
59%
What more/less would you like to see in the newsletter?
Most common responses:
 Highlight more changes in research guidelines/policies and business processes
 More advertisements for new funding opportunities
 Newsletter is OK as is
 There are too many newsletters: use a more targeted approach
Office of Research Customer Service
Please rate your level of satisfaction with the following items related to the Office of Research customer
service.
250
200
150
100
50
0
The Office of Research provides valuable
resources
The Office of Research has a clear
understanding of department needs in
regard to research assistance
Strongly Agree
Agree
I am confident that the Office of Research
will be able to assist me with difficult
situations
Disagree
I find it easy to work with the Office of
Research
Strongly Disagree
What actions can the Office of Research take to improve customer service?
Most common responses:
 Be more responsive/timely
 Have more consistency in knowledge/responses from staff
 Collaborate more with faculty, PIs, and department administrators
 Improve communications: be clearer, more effective, more professional
 Less turnover in research administrators
 Communicate clearly who the Office of Research is, what they are, what they can do and cannot do to assist clients
 Establish face-to-face meetings with liaisons
 Improve processes
 Increase accountability and reliability