The Year in Review...
The 2005-2006 academic year was record-breaking in terms of both external funding and graduate enrollment for UALR. The high success rate for awards brought in over $27 million to the university last year, an increase of over 20% from award amounts in the previous year.This is a great accomplishment for researchers campus-wide. The university also increased graduate student enrollment by 3%, serving 2,066 graduate students during 2005-2006.

Both research and graduate studies go hand-in-hand. The Office of Research and Graduate Studies (ORGS) looks forward to yet another record-breaking year in 2006-2007 as it reorganizes and develops new programs to aid the UALR community in expanding its research capabilities and graduate offerings.

In this monthly newsletter, the first issue of the year, you will find stories and news about ORGS, research activities and external funding (ORSP), and graduate studies’ activities (Graduate School).

Subscribe to the ORGS Newsletter
In order to benefit from timely information about travel funds, seed grants, and funding sponsors, you can subscribe to the ORGS Newsletter in two ways: 1) simply click on the subscribe link at the end of the newsletter to notify us or 2) send an email to listserv@ualr.edu. In the email to the listserv, do not include a subject, signature file, or any text other than the command itself. In the body of the email, type: subscribe ORGS-NEWSLETTER fullname. Example: subscribe ORGS-NEWSLETTER John Doe

The New Face of ORGS
As the 2006 Fall semester begins, a new ORGS (Office of Research and Graduate Studies) expands to continue supporting UALR’s growing research community. ORGS directs both the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP) and the Graduate School. An ORGS “reORGanization” includes the hiring of new personnel and the revising of current program positions to improve service to UALR’s faculty, administrators, staff, and students.

ORGS welcomes these new additions to its staff:

Robert Sikes, PhD, Associate Dean
As a native Arkansan and graduate of UALR (BS 1985), Sikes returned to UALR as a faculty member in 1999, after receiving his PhD in zoology from the University of Minnesota and a MS from Memphis State University. As a UALR associate professor, he helped develop a new graduate program in Biology. Though Sikes takes a more administrative role at ORGS, he remains a researcher and graduate mentor. He and his student teams will continue valuable and interesting research such as that of working on modes of communication in northern grasshopper mice (a species native to the western US and known for howling like miniature wolves). Most recently, Sikes led a collaborative project in China over the summer; the research, he says, focused on understanding energy balance in “the world’s poster child for conservation research--the giant panda.”

Judy Camp, MA, Administrative Director
In addition to helping faculty and ORSP staff with pre-award grant preparation, Camp will also assist ORGS with publications, writing, and editing. She previously managed the Acxiom Laboratory for Applied Research (ALAR) in UALR’s Donaghey College of Information Science and Systems Engineering, where she supervised ALAR’s research projects and grants, organized conferences and workshops, wrote publications, and served as liaison between Acxiom Corporation and its academic partners across Arkansas and the region. Camp previously taught technical and expository writing, editing, and composition in the Rhetoric and Writing Department at UALR, and she managed her own company, a jury research firm providing survey and focus group research for corporations and attorneys.

Other current ORGS staff members who have new roles include:

Terry Steele, Research Manager
In his new role as ORSP Research Manager, Steele oversees the pre- and post award activities, ensuring financial and time and effort compliance of all externally and internally funded projects. He also oversees the ORGS budgets and all grants. Steele acts as liaison between ORGS and Financial Services and assists with the negotiation of awards. In order to help streamline pre- and post award activities, he will also coordinate training for faculty and staff to strengthen the post award communication. Steele prepares ORSP’s customized reports such as monthly indirect cost recovery, indirect cost recovery forecasting, research productivity, submission and award statistics, and other report requests from the academic and administrative units.

Louise Branscomb, Post Award Manager
As Post Award Manager, Branscomb serves as liaison for all federal, state, and private grants and manages all awards to the College of Information Science and Systems Engineering, the College of Science and Mathematics, and the Graduate Institute of Technology. She will supervise all ORSP personnel in charge of grants and assist in establishing programs and processes to continuously improve post award services.

Tanice Blackman, Information Technology Specialist
In her new role as IT Specialist, Blackman designs, develops, implements, and maintains the information management systems for ORGS. This includes custom web applications in support of ORGS and the Colleges. She will also implement policies and procedures for security of data and equipment and develop automated procedures for tracking and reporting graduate school activities for applications, checks, compliance statistics, and budgets. Blackman also supports the publication of brochures, the graduate and undergraduate research magazines, and customized reports for ORGS and the Colleges.

Other changes include new titles and responsibilities for Graduate School staff members Paula Baker, Program Coordinator, and Sheena Brooks, Document Examiner. Natalie Rego, Administrative Secretary, is now full-time in that role.

Research News

Grant Editing Services Available
Grant editing services are available on a limited basis for researchers who are submitting proposals to Federal or State agencies with budgets over $100,000 and with full indirect cost recovery. Faculty and staff members who need editing help should contact the Vice Provost for Research and Graduate School Dean, Dr. Abe Nisanci (ihnisanci@ualr.edu (501) 569-8661). In order to take advantage of these services, investigators should submit final drafts with budgets two to four weeks before deadlines.

Proposal Writing Short Course Offered
Faculty and staff members, especially those new to the proposal writing world, may be interested in from ORGS’ six-week course in proposal writing, which is set to begin in early October. The two-hour sessions each week are intended for those researchers who anticipate submitting proposals in the coming year or who need aid in preparing and writing proposals. Participants will be expected to work on grant proposals or concept papers to sponsors during the six-weeks.

Limited to 20 participants, the course will emphasize the writing and editing of each section of a proposal, and it will assist participants in selecting appropriate funding sponsors for their specific projects. The course will also include ORSP information on budget preparation and UALR procedures. Previous proposal reviewers and funded investigators will provide participants insight for successful grant applications. Limited travel funds for participants in this six-week course to visit funding sponsors are available.

Detailed information on the short course will be forwarded to college deans and unit heads for dissemination to faculty and staff soon.

New Faculty and Researcher Workshop Set for October 6, 2006
The first of several ORSP Workshops planned for the year will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. onFriday, October 6th, in the Donaghey Student Center, Room D. The agenda for the event will be distributed soon to faculty and staff, so you can plan time for the sessions you wish to attend. Mark your calendars now!

Session topics include:

• Proposal Topics and Funding Sources
• Pre-award Preparation
• Overview of UALR policies and procedures, sponsor submission processes, budget preparation, compliance issues, intellectual property, and technology transfer
• Proposal Writing
• Expert Panel Discussion
• Faculty proposal reviewers and funded investigators will offer suggestions and experiences and answer your questions
• Pre Award Processes
• Policies and procedures for managing funded projects

Please enroll for this event by Friday, September 29, 2006, by e-mailing Judy Camp at jacamp@ualr.edu.

Workshop Series for 2006-2007 Arranged
The ORSP staff will present one-hour workshops throughout the year to provide education and assistance to grant writers and managers. A complete schedule with times and places will be published soon and include topics such as:

• Grants.gov
• Post-award Processes
• Compliance Issues
• Funding Sources: SMARTS/SPIN/InfoEd
• Intellectual Property

If you have other topics which you would like to see included in the series, please send your suggestions to Judy Camp at jacamp@ualr.edu.

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Travel Matching Funds Fall Deadline
The deadline for applying for “Travel Matching Fund” during Fall 2006 is September 30. Click here for the application.

Please complete the form and send it to Ms. Dana White. If an official announcement acknowledging your presentation/paper is not available, please put a note on the form that it will be sent to ORSP as soon as you receive it. Separate announcement will be made for travel during Spring 2007.

Agencies Change Computing for Personnel Time in Proposals
The National Science Foundation and other funding agencies ask that the amount of time that PI(s), faculty members, and other senior personnel devote to a specific project be calculated in terms of “person-months.” Basically, multiply the percentage of a person’s effort associated with a project by the number of months of the person’s appointment. For example, 10% of a 9-month appointment equals .9 person months; 10% of a 12-month calendar appointment equals 1.2 months, etc. ORSP has added a spreadsheet to its web site that will help PIs calculate their time for inclusion in proposals.

Grants.gov E-submission Update
Though the US Office of Management and Budget (OMB) does not mandate electronic submission using Grants.gov’s SF 424 R&R application package, its goal is to make all program opportunities available through Grants.gov’s “APPLY.”

The newest Federal funding agencies using Grants.gov for proposal submissions or announcements include:

• The Office of Naval Research (ONR)- Using Grants.gov SF 424 R&R electronic application package
• National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA) – Using Grants.gov as portal for submission of proposals, but all NASA centers will use NASA NSPIRES electronic application package by October 1, 2006
• US Army Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP) – Using Grants.gov for announcements, but CDMRP will continue using its eReceipt system for submissions as it slowly transitions to Grant.gov submissions

The NIH reports that it received more than 9,000 applications since its transition to Grants.gov in December. Grants.gov will also implement an alternative solution for non-Windows operating systems in 2007 other than Citrix.

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ORSP Assisted With Over 250 Grant Submissions Last Year
The ORSP staff assisted with 258 grant submissions during the 2005-2006 academic year to Federal, State, industry, and community funding sources. The dollar value of awards, over $27 million, increased 20% from the previous year. In the 2006-2007 academic year, ORSP’s enhanced pre- and post award services are reorganized to increase funding opportunities and success rates further. The table below reports last year’s proposal submissions and awards in all areas.

The ORGS and ORSP staffs would like to thank all the investigators who made 2005-2006 a record-breaking year for grant submissions and funding.

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Limits on Number of Submissions
Please alert Dr. Nisanci as early as possible if you are planning to submit a proposal to a program which limits the number of submissions per institution.

Indirect Cost Recovery and Fringes
Indirect cost recovery will not be waived or reduced unless there is a program restriction. In such a case, the program announcement needs to be attached to the “Internal Review and Cover Sheet.” Indirect costs not recovered can be shown as an institutional match. Fringe benefits cannot be waived.

What You Should Know About Matching Funds (cost-sharing)

• Cost-sharing should be used only if it is a documented program requirement, and the program announcement must be attached to the “Internal Review and Routing Sheet”
• Source(s) of matching funds should be identified clearly in the budget justification and on the “Internal Review and Cover Sheet.” The unit providing the match (e.g. GIT, CSAM, etc.) must be identified, and the appropriate signatures secured
• Unnecessary use of cost sharing reduces the institution’s indirect cost recovery rate that is negotiated with federal agencies

NSF Information Session
Faculty and graduate students are cordially invited to a NSF Information Session to be held on Monday, October 30 from 10:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. at the Donald W. Reynolds Center on the campus of the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. The starting time is intended to accommodate visitors from other campuses. There will be sessions by three NSF staff members in the areas of transport systems, materials science, and international programs. There will also be special sessions on Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) and on CAREER awards for early-career investigators. Details are given on the attached flyer.

Please register for the event by October 13 by contacting Cassie Franklin at cfrankli@uark.edu or 479-575-7762. Please indicate if you are planning to attend the luncheon. Registration is free but limited by the space available. See program agenda (pdf).

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Graduate School News

WorldFest September 15 and 15, 2006
ORGS will engage in several community service projects during the 2006-2007 academic year. First up is hosting “Kid’s World” at WorldFest 2006 in partnership with the UALR TEAMS Program and the Graduate Student Association. WorldFest is a diversity fair hosted by the City of Little Rock’s Racial and Cultural Diversity Commission. Since 2003, Graduate School Assistant Dean Shannon Clowney has served as area coordinator for the Kid’s World component which hosts diversity and cultural centered activities for over 4000 school children from around Arkansas. WorldFest 2006 will be held on September 15 and 16, 2006 in McArthur Park and is free to the public. For more information or for volunteer opportunities, please contact the TEAMS program at 501-569-8659 or email smclowney@ualr.edu. You can also visit the WorldFest web site at www.rcdcworldfest.org.

September Recruiting Calendar
Graduate student recruiting dates for September include:

September 20 - UALR Career Fair
September 21 - University of Arkansas at Fayetteville Graduate School Fair
September 22 – 23 - McNair Conference Kansas City, MO
September 26 - Lyon College Graduate Fair
September 27 - Arkansas State University Graduate School/Career Fair
September 28 - Hendrix College Career Fair
September 28 - University of Memphis Career/Graduate School Fair
September 28 - Rhodes College Graduate School Fair

Mini-Sessions For Potential Graduates Set
The Graduate School and UALR Admissions Office will offer a series of workshops for students “Getting into Graduate School.” Each session focuses on specific graduate degrees in each college, as follows:

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If you know students who are interested in pursuing graduate degrees, please have them call the Admissions Office at 569-3206 to register for these specific mini-sessions, or ask them to drop by the DSC at the designated time in order to receive more information.

Graduate Catalog Changes Requested
Production of the 2007 graduate catalog is underway. If information about your center, institute, or other special program is listed under the "Research, Learning and Service" section of the catalog (page30), please take a moment to review and submit any changes to Shannon Clowney at smclowney@ualr.edu. If your unit, institute, or program is not listed in this section and you would like it included, please send the information to Shannon so that it may be included in the upcoming catalog. The 2007 Graduate catalog will be available the 2nd week of January 2007.

New Graduate Students Attend ORGS' Dinner
New graduate students and their families, over 250 people, attended the annual welcome dinner on Thursday, August 24th, hosted by the Graduate School in the Donaghey Student Center. Students were able to dine with faculty members and staff from each of UALR’s graduate programs, while also getting to know Graduate School and Graduate Student Association staff. Guest speakers included Graduate School Dean Ibrahim Nisanci, who is also Vice Provost for Research; ORGS Associate Dean Robert Sikes; Graduate School Assistant Dean Shannon Clowney, and Graduate Student Association President, Genti Borici.

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