Aug 4th, 10
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According to the Carrer College Association, Mothers are an important market for the profitability of many educational insitutions as women account for approximately 65 percent of college students with more than half having dependent children.
However, recently, this same group of people have been targeted, “victimized” and insulted upon receiving notification of special college grants and scholarships that President Obama had created specifically for single mothers. As it turns out, women were receiving ads via email where they would see a picture of the President as well as a link which, when clicked on, took them into a new window where they were then asked to enter their age as well as other specific information related to the kind of college degree they sought. This same website then produced a list of schools that matched up with the email recipients choices.
Within a short period of time, recruiters from popular universities such as Kaplan University and the University of Phoenix would send out emails and phone calls. In one case, a woman by the name of Nicole Massey, started asking these colleges about the Obama loans as well as money for single moms, in which recruiters responded that they would contact her with more information regarding her question. The only problem was that they failed to contact her.
When ProPublica attempted to follow up on this apparent scam by following several lead generators linked to the Obama mom ads, all either declined to comment or did not return calls/e-mails. That’s when they took matters into their own hands. Using volunteers from the ProPublica Reporting Network to click on the links and fill out the online forms, ProPublica hoped to determine which schools were buying leads. Just as Massey had it happen to her, all of the volunteers received dozens of emails and phone calls within no time from the following schools:
- Walden University
- Golden Gate University
- Kaplan University
- Ashford University
- American InterContinental University
- Capella University
- Colorado Technical University
- University of Phoenix
- University of Southern California Rossier School of Education
Of the aforementioned colleges, only one was a non-profit university. When volunteers asked lead generators and college recruiters about the Obama grans or scholarships for moms, none of the recruiters claimed that these grants actually existed however, none disputed that they existed either.
(Via: ProPublica)
Aug 12th, 10
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According to a recent article published in the Tampa Bay Business Journal, the University of South Florida College of Nursing is presently only one of two colleges within the United States to receive a $1.3 million federal grant, which will be used to train nursing faculty throughout the state in the use of simulation learning, informatics and telehealth.
No doubt, college administrators, staff and students are excited about being awarded the training grant, as it will allow the university to forge ahead in new and exciting areas of study that will only seek to improve USF’s nursing program.
The federal grant was issued by the Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration. And according to the news article, using part of the program funded through the grant, USF will:
…study how the use of emerging technologies can supplement nursing students’ clinical experiences, reduce the pressure on over-stressed hospitals that serve as settings for hands-on learning, and create nurses better prepared to enter today’s high-tech health care field. [source]
For more information about college administrator software or grant management, contact IT Works today at 919-232-5332.
Aug 25th, 10
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In recent news, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) awarded the Medical College of Wisconsin $20 million in grant monies in order to fund efforts to collaborate with seven other local institutions in research discoveries.
The grant, known as the Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA), is a five-year grant and is one of several that is being awarded to at least eight other research centers this year. Thus far, the CTSA has supported 55 programs since 2003. In addition to the Medical College of Wisconsin, other institutions that are participating in the award include:
- Marquette University
- Milwaukee School of Engineering
- University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
- BloodCenter of Wisconsin
- Children’s Hospital and Health System
- Froedtert Hospital
- Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center
The grants are significant because the NIH is
…awarding them to centers it believes will be best at translating research advances into treatment, training researchers and engaging communities in their research efforts. [source]
Opening doors for southeastern Wisconsin
For a period of time, there has been a longstanding concern in southeastern Wisconsin that while there are numerous projects at smaller research institutions, no effort has been made to pool together resources in order to take on more complex, rewarding work. Upon receiving the grant, relationships have now been sparked between the region’s largest research institutions, which will hopefully lead to a more powerful research effort in the near future.
(Via: JS Online)
Sep 1st, 10
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In a recent article published in The Washington Post, federal workers are being forced to defend harsh criticim over their salaries.
Thanks to a rough election season as well as a fumbling American economy, many people are now scrambling to make ends meet by cleaning up their finances…This includes the government as well. And after USA Today published a series of articles that showed a growing salary gap between private-sector and federal workers, officials from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) were quick to defend themselves.
In August, USA Today reported that civil servants were receiving an average pay and benefits amounting to approximately $123k for 2009 while private workers were making $61k in total compensation. This same report used data released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis to conclude that the aforementioned compensation had grown from $30,415 in 2000 to $62,000 in 2009.
According to a statement obtained from John Berry, the government’s personnel chief,
These stories have compared apples to oranges…We should be applauding these hard-working civil servants, not mischaracterizing them. [source]
Further, according to article published in TWSJ, the data critics are using includes jobs and careers that are tipped in favor of highly educated employees. Tad DeHaven, a budget analyst and blogger for the Cato Institute may have had a point when he was recorded as stating,
The numbers are in the eye of the beholder..[source]
(Via: The Washington Post)
Sep 8th, 10
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In recent news, a multi-institutional team comprised of John Young, Ph.D., and Sumit Chanda, Ph.D., has been awarded a $21 million Program Project Grant dedicated to researching the early immune response to HIV via a systems biology approach.
The project is said to bring together a multidisciplinary team spanning the expertise of 13 different research groups at seven different research institutions- all in an effort to uncover the cellular protein machinery that represents the first line of defense against HIV.
In the meantime, the group seems optimistic about the endeavor, remaining hopeful that this grant will allow them to understand better how the immune system functions as well as maintaining the goal of building more accurate mathematical and experimental models to be used to help predict which cellular factors represent various targets for different antiviral therapies.
This is just one prime example of how using grant funds properly can actually make a difference in the world, one step at a time.
(Via: FierceBiotech)
Oct 27th, 10
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In recent grants management system news, the National Institute of Health (NIH) 2011 Loan Repayment Programs (LRPs) opened in early September and will be accepting applications until 8:00 p.m. EST on November 15, 2010.
Detailed information on the program may be found here or by copying and pasting the following link into your web browser: http://www.lrp.nih.gov/.
Research managers and research scientists will be interested to know some of the following benefits of the LRPs:
- LRP contracts are awarded for a 2-year period and repay up to $35k of qualified educational debt annually.
- Participants may apply for competitive renewals, which are issued for 1 to 2 years.
- Undergraduate, graduate, medical school and other health professional school loans qualify for repayment.
- An NIH grant or other NIH funding is NOT required in order to apply for or participate in the LRPs.
Eligibility
- Applicants must have a doctoral-level degree.
- Applicants must be a U.S. citizen, national or permanent resident.
- Applicants must devote 20+ hours per week towards conducting qualified research funded by a domestic nonprofit, university or government entity.
- Applicants must have a qualified loan debt that is equal to or exceeding 20 percent of their institutional base salary.
Each year, approximately 1,600 research managers and research scientists reap the benefits of the $70+ million that NIH invests in their careers via LRPs. For more information on the application process , view http://www.lrp.nih.gov/pdf/0310_1_application_tips.pdf. You can also contact the LRP Information Center at (866) 849.4047 or receive updates via Twitter.
Feb 9th, 11
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Made effective as of January 1, 2011, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will now require the use of xTrain for the electronic submission of Appointment Forms and/or Termination Notices for Institutional Research Training and Career Awards, Individual Fellowships and Research Fellowship Awards.
As per the announcement on the NIH website:
As of January 1, 2011, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will require the use of the eRA Commons xTrain system to electronically prepare and submit PHS 2271 Statement of Appointment forms and/or PHS 416-7 Termination Notices when required for institutional research training and career development awards, individual fellowships, and research education awards. After January 1, paper appointment forms and termination notices will not be accepted. Paper submissions will be considered noncompliant, and grantees will be required to resubmit appointment forms and termination notices electronically using xTrain.
This requirement applies to the following activity codes:
- Kirschstein-NRSA undergraduate institutional training grants (T34 – appointment forms only)
- Kirschstein-NRSA predoctoral and postdoctoral institutional training grants (T32, T35, T90, TL1, and TU2)
- National Library of Medicine institutional training grants (T15)
- Kirschstein-NRSA fellowships (F30, F31, F32, and F33 – termination notices only)
- Research education awards (R25, R90)*
- Institutional career development awards (K12, KL2, KM1)*
Those who are in need of assistance or who may have other questions pertaining to the use of eRA Commons and xTrain should visit the eRA Commons Help Desk by clicking here or by calling the following numbers between the hours of 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., EST, Monday through Friday:
[source: NIH]
May 4th, 11
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IT Works is a proud supporter of the National Council of University Research Administrators (NCURA). The purpose of NCURA is to promote the advancement of research administration through education and professional development programs, to name a few. Following are a few of the NCURA awards up for grabs, as well as the deadlines for these applications.
- The Catherine Core Minority Travel Award | Applications due May 25, 2011- This program supports travel to the NCURA annual meeting for up to four individuals from underrepresented groups who would not be able to attend the conference otherwise. More information can be found here.
- The Distinguished Service Award | Applications due May 25, 2011-This award is given to up to five individuals who have made significant contributions to NCURA. More information can be found here.
- The Joseph F. Carrabino Award | Nominations due May 25, 2011- This award is presented to a current or former federal employee who has made a significant contribution to research administration. More information can be found here.
- The Outstanding Achievement in Research Administration Award | Nominations due May 25, 2011-This award is given to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the profession of research administration. More information can be found here.
[source: NCURA ]
For more information about grants management systems or effort certification reporting, contact IT Works at (919) 232.5332.
Jun 8th, 11
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On May 11, 2011, President Richard Brodhead helped jump start the 2011 Symposium for Research Administration over at Duke University.
As most people are already aware, Duke University was and continues to be one of the leading colleges and research institutions for the discovery of cutting edge medical techniques as well as advanced medical research.
This year’s Symposium was hosted by the Research Administration Continuous Improvement initiative (RACI). Some of the notable speakers included:
- Tim Walsh, Vice President for Finance at Duke University
- David Kennedy, Council on Government Relations in Washington, D.C.
- Michael Merson, Founding Director for Duke Global Health Institute
- Jim Luther, Assistant Vice President and Research Costing Compliance Officer for Duke University
Research Administration Software in the University System
If there is one thing that this Symposium underscored, it is the important role that research administration software plays in universities, colleges and other research institutions. Take just one look at IT Works’ Research Management Software, and you’ll know how important research management software solutions are to research institutions and higher education institutions such as Duke University.
Items such as figuring out the individual budget needs based on departments, schools and universities as wel as figuring out budget alignment problems are just two examples of areas that research management software addresses.
As we continue on in 2011 and government spending begins to taper down, research administration software and grant management will become an increasingly important issue as colleges and research-based institutions take a harder look at how and where money is spent as well as by whom.
