Training Offered by the Office of Sponsored Programs

Introduction to the Office of Sponsored Programs

Learn about sponsors and award types, as well as office leadership and team responsibilities.

Life Cycle of an Award

From proposal to closeout, learn the stages of a sponsored award and important contacts during each stage of an award.

Roles and Responsibilities

View roles and responsibilities for each stage of the award life cycle.

Introduction to the Proposal Submission Process

In this video, members of the pre-award team detail important components of the proposal submission process, including proposal tips, budgeting, and Summit Proposals/Agreements.

Meeting New Federal Requirements for Research Security Training

Several United States federal funding agencies have adopted a requirement for research security training. Representatives from the Office of Export and Secure Research Compliance and the Office of Sponsored Programs provide an overview of this new federal requirement.

National Science Foundation's Transition to SciENcv

As part of OSP's Expert Q&A series, Lauren Magruder, director of pre-award, explains the National Science Foundation's transition to SciENcv. Researchers are now required to use SciENcv for biosketches and current and pending support sections of proposals.

Agency-Specific Foreign Influence Disclosure Guidance

Government agencies have identified foreign interests and activities that require disclosure to federal agencies when proposing to or participating in federally sponsored research. The webpage offers helpful information and downloadable resources on the specific requirements of the Department of Defense (including  Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency special requirements), Department of Energy, National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, and National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Solving the Mystery of Cost Share: Best Practices for Faculty and the Department

As part of OSP’s Expert Q&A Series, pre-award and post-award team members delve into the rules and best practices of cost share. Presenters also highlight Virginia Tech resources and systems that make managing cost sharing easier. Presentation slides are available to download under the video’s "Attachments" tab.

Critical Areas of Sponsored Research Compliance: National Science Foundation Updates and Research Security

Two critical areas of compliance affecting researchers are federal sponsor guidelines and research security. In this OSP Expert Q&A session, Lauren Magruder, director of pre-award, highlights updates to the National Science Foundation’s Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide, which take effect May 20, 2024. In addition, John Talerico, director of the Office of Export and Secure Research Compliance, provides an overview of research security and its implications for the research community.

As the university continues to extend its global reach, research security remains an essential component of sponsored projects; therefore, researchers and department personnel must comply with numerous federal regulations and risk mitigation procedures to safeguard themselves, their research, and the university.  

Success with USDA Grants: The Structure and Proposal Process of the United States Department of Agriculture

This video provides an in-depth overview of the different agencies and offices within the USDA, including their organizational structure and key funding priorities. Presenters explore past award opportunities and share strategies for aligning research with funding priorities. The video also covers best practices for successful proposals, as well as the systems used for proposal submission. 

Essential Guidance on Non-Funded Research Agreements

Contracts and agreements team members explain navigating non-funded agreements, including Material Transfer Agreements (MTAs), Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs), Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs), and Collaboration Agreements. Presenters provide guidance on how to initiate the agreements and the process for routing them through OSP. 

Principal Investigator Verification Email in Summit Agreements

The module covers the components and process of a proposed funded agreement verification email sent to principal investigators, as well as helpful tips and information about using Summit Agreements.

Award Management System (AMS): An Essential Tool for Research Administration

In this Expert Q&A session, a post-award associate provides an overview and tutorial of the Award Management System (AMS). A necessary electronic platform for sponsored awards, AMS consolidates essential award information and offers tailored views for department staff and principal investigators. 

Award Management System: Principal Investigator View resources

Learn how to utilize the power of the Award Management System as a principal investigator. The system is tailored to one’s role in the research community, so individuals will always see the most relevant, current financial information for their awards.

Award Management System: Department View Resources 

Learn how to navigate the Award Management System as department personnel.

Sponsored Award Closeouts: Compliance, Deadlines, and Responsibilities

Learn how to how to navigate and complete the last stage in the life cycle of a sponsored award.

Participant Support Costs in Federally-Funded Projects: Key Considerations and Compliance

In this Q&A session, a director from the post-award team provides guidance on participant support costs. Viewers learn what constitutes participant support costs and describe their significance in the context of federally-funded projects. 

Award Change Requests

Principal investigators can submit an award change request directly in Summit Agreements. On the webpage, learn more about a specific award change request and how to submit a request via Summit Agreements.

Effective Subrecipient Monitoring in Sponsored Programs: Key Procedures and Best Practices

Subrecipient monitoring remains a critical component of sponsored programs, requiring early engagement and ongoing oversight. Watch this video to review essential procedures and compliance requirements, such as invoicing, timely payments, and documentation.

Updates to Sponsored Funds Allowable Costs Procedure

Members of the Financial Compliance and Integrity team share essential updates to OSP's Procedure 30010, Sponsored Award Expenditure Guidelines (Allowable Costs). The comprehensive update includes key changes based on the October 2024 Code of Federal Regulations, insights from recent audit findings, helpful clarifications, and the introduction of best practices to ensure the research community has the latest and most relevant information. 

Solving the Mystery of Cost Share: Best Practices for Faculty and the Department

As part of OSP’s Expert Q&A series, pre-award and post-award team members delve into the rules and best practices of cost share. Presenters highlight Virginia Tech resources and systems that make managing cost sharing easier. Presentation slides are available to download under the video’s "Attachments" tab.

Fly America Act

Resource providing essential information and helpful links to follow guidelines for international travel. A video resource also explains the Fly America Act.

Charging Travel Expenses to a Sponsored Project: What Do Departments Need Before Submitting Travel Vouchers?

A sponsored grant or contract often has restrictive terms and conditions concerning which travel expenses can be charged to the sponsored project and what backup documentation is required. Travel costs on sponsored projects are one of the categories of costs that federal auditors are scrutinizing more closely, and research universities are seeing more travel costs being questioned and disallowed. Departmental staff can help prevent this from happening at Virginia Tech.

As part of OSP's Q&A series, financial compliance and integrity team members review what kinds of travel expenses can be charged to a sponsored project and what additional information and documentation departments need to provide on travel vouchers in Chrome River.

Cost Transfers

This training video provides a concise review of the policies and guidelines of cost transfers on sponsored projects.

Effort Reporting 

Resource that provides effort reporting schedules, tutorials, and FAQs.

Through this self-paced, online program, participants learn about Office of Sponsored Programs' teams, roles and responsibilities of a sponsored project, the life cycle of an award, policy navigation, compliance-driven practices, operational procedures, electronic research administration, and other foundational components of sponsored programs. Participants earn digital badges for completing modules and the entire course. Digital badges represent one’s commitment to continued professional learni

The CRA study team is an online, guided self-study program designed for research administrators, regardless of institution, who plan to take the certified research administrator exam.