The ARC program will consist of required core classes and currently six (6) electives to choose from, with a requirement of competing a minimum of three (3). 

The program will launch with an Orientation session in October 2023 beginning with participant introductions, outlining expectations, program course review and results of a post-application survey.

The ARC program initially launched under the Research Administration Training Program (RATP) as a pilot and has grown to a full program that will connect daily grants management with Princeton systems and applicability.

Classes are tailored to performing the fundamentals of research administration while navigating the Princeton systems, considering both sponsor and University policies and procedures. Classes are designed to build a solid foundation that can easily expand allowing elevated research administrative support within their roles at Princeton and beyond. 

Each class will be approximately 60 minutes with both virtual and in-person options, however multiple modules include additional hour-long lab requirements where hands-on activities will be performed allowing for skills application. Labs may or may not run concurrently with the related core-class (TBD). Participants will have the ability to complete the certification program in as little as 12 months, or as long as 24 (no sessions during the summer months) based on schedule flexibility and existing job workload. The total in-class time commitment will be approximately 20 hours, not including any pre-work assignments or homework.  In order to receive full certification, see the requirements outlined in the application expectations.  

• Submit an applications and obtain supervisor approval (along with Department Manager/Center Manager approval)
• Must attend all required sessions
• Must have the ability to have their camera on at a minimum of 90% of a class to receive credit
• Must complete homework assignments
• Each class will be one-hour, with additional one-hour hands-on lab sessions (not concurrently with the class) - must complete both class + lab(s) to receive credit for completion of that course
• Some pre-class work will be required to properly prepare for each session, creating opportunities for more discussion time during class and applying the course topic  

The Administrator Research Certification program is a collaborative effort across a variety of offices and groups at Princeton. The following offices and groups will teach segments of the program:

• Dean of the Faculty (DOF)
• Graduate School (DGS)
• Human Resources (HR)
• Office of Audit and Compliance (OAC)
• Office of Research and Project Administration (ORPA)
• Research Integrity and Assurance (RIA)
• Selected grants managers
• Sponsored Research Accounting (SRA)
• ….and more!

Steering Committee: Elizabeth Adams, Hope Caldwell, Maureen Connolly, Floe Fusin-Wischusen, Matt Kotsovolos, Ann Cannon, Stuart Leland, Paula Looney, Sarah McGovern, Glynis Sherard, Albana Cejne, Lisa Baratta, Allison Petito, and Courtney Kohut.

• Research at Princeton
• Departments: ORPA | SRA | F & T | RIA | CEFR
• Contacts
• Roles
• Divisions I, II, III & IV
• Pre- and Post-award Tasks
• Systems
• Resources & Rate Sheet
• Indirect Cost Rates
• Fringe Rates

• Proposal Preparation
• Notifying your Grant & Contract Administrator
• Sponsors & Portals - Logging in & Accounts
• Reading an RFP/FOA/Solicitation/NOFO
• Initiating an ERA Proposal Record - short title
• Principal Investigator Qualification Chart
• Gathering Information
• PI Assurances & Certifications
• Current & Pending (Other) Support | Biographical Sketch
• Collaborators/Subawards - domestic & foreign

LAB I:

• Creating an ERA FP Record
• Adding Sponsor Information
• Is this a system-to-system
• Adding personnel
• Uploading initial information
• Naming records & attachments
• Initiating a proposal in sponsor proposals (as applicable)
• Routing certs & compliance questions
• COI Disclosures / CITI Training
• Reading an RFP/NOFO
• Sending a checklist to PI
• Commitment Letters
• Requesting budget details / start date / PI effort information

• Gathering budget information
• Entering a budget(s) into ERA
• Multiple PI's
• Fabrications
• Subawards
• Participant Support Costs
• F & A Rates
• MTDC vs TDC
• Cost-share
• Effort
• Budget Justification building

LAB

• Adding a budget
• Creating multiple budgets & why
• Adding personnel
• Effort & Salary
• Various Facilities & Administrative Cost considerations
• Using available tools
• Escalation
• Summer Salary
• Post-docs
• Sponsor budget templates

• Faculty - various ranks, teaching & research time
• Postdoctoral Researchers - types & considerations
• Graduate Students
• Other Types of Personnel
• Other Significant Contributor (NIH)
• Administrative Support
• Soft vs. Hard money positions
• Senior/Key Personnel & what it means
• Personnel tab in ERA - 3.a. & 3.b.

• Working with Sponsored Research Accounting
• SRA Analyst
• Key Roles & Responsibilities
• Invoicing & Billing - Federally Approved Accounting System
• SF425 & Other Sponsor Requested Reports
• Stakeholders
• Financial Reports
• Cost Allowability
• Tracking Costs
• Journals & Cost-Transfer Justifications

LAB

• Running & Reading Reports
• Scheduling Reports
• Creating a journal
• Completing a cost-transfer justification
• Viewing invoices

• Notice of Award
• Understanding budgeting costs
• Federal vs. non-federal sponsor requirements
• Post-award request routing
  • ORPA Post-Award Request (OPAR)
    • NCE's - considerations
    • Re-budget - Budget Distribution Spreadsheet
    • Transfers (in and out of Princeton)
    • Advanced Spending
    • Unbudgeted Equipment Purchases
    • Change of PI
    • Reduction in Effort
• Expanded Authority - Matrix

LAB

• Budget Distribution Spreadsheet
• Initiate Requests in Sponsor Portals
• Reading Sponsor Guidelines for Requests
• Checking award balances / end dates
• Subscribing to report

• Departments - Who they are and what they do:
  • RIA
  • IACUC
  • IRB
  • IBC
• COI Disclosures
• CITI Training

Existing Intro to Export Control sessions are offered throughout the year - participants will sign-up and attend one of these existing sessions.

• What is Export Control?
  • Types of Exports
  • International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR)
  • Export Administration Regulations (EAR)
  • Office of Foreign Assets Control Regulations (OFAC)
• Fundamental Research
• Technology Control Plan
• When may I run into issues?
  • International Travel
  • Carrying Equipment
  • Consequences
• Who do I contact and when?