The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs
Welcome!
The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP) provides support for the research, creative, and scholarly endeavors of Appalachian faculty, staff, and students.
What is a sponsored program? This phrase refers to any scholarly, professional and creative activities that University of North Carolina-affiliated personnel conduct with support from external funding mechanisms like grants, contracts and cooperative agreements.
Please follow the links in the sidebar to the left of this window to find out more about the services available.
The Office
ORSP is made up of three sections: the Office of Proposal Development, the Office of Sponsored Programs and the Office of Research Compliance.
The Office of Proposal Development:- Assists with developing ideas into proposals
- Locates, evaluates and disseminates funding opportunities
- Publishes the Funding Express Newsletter, which highlights faculty members who have received external funding. The newsletter also includes columns with tips and guidance and information about external funding of interest to the campus community.
- Offers professional development workshops and seminars
The Office of Sponsored Programs:
- Reviews and approves all proposal submissions
- Assists with developing budgets
- Negotiates all grant awards and contracts
- Insures that all proposals for sponsored program funding are in compliance with federal regulations, state laws, and UNC system and Appalachian policies
- Transitions funded projects to the Office of Special Funds Accounting for post-award services such as account set-up and expenditures
The Office of Research Protections:
- Monitors non-fiscal compliance concerns relating to research involving: human subjects, animal subjects, export controls or intellectual property
The Process
The process (click here to view a flow chart) for seeking external funding usually progresses in the following order:
- You have a great idea for a project.
- The Office of Proposal Development helps you refine your idea and identify appropriate funding opportunities.
- You communicate with the funding agency program officer and your college or school’s research development officer about your idea; keeping your department chair or area director appraised of your plans and progress; and, alerting the Office of Sponsored Programs about your planned proposal submission.
- You obtain the appropriate approvals related to compliance if, for example, your idea includes the use of human or animal subjects.
- Research administration expertise is available throughout the process to help you refine your project narrative, develop your budget, complete required forms, and submit the proposal to the funding agency.
- If awarded, ORSP helps you transition to the Office of Special Funds Accounting (under Business Affairs), where you will receive assistance with the financial management of your sponsored program.
