Advocating �for the �Sponsored Research Office �(SRO)

Renee Cox, North Park University

Susan Ferrari, Grinnell College

Tania Johnson, Swarthmore College

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Session Agenda

• Part I (30 mins)
• Introduction
• Review of identified challenges from Spring 2022 virtual series
• Areas of advocacy for the SRO
• Effect of SRO Life Cycle on advocacy needs
• Tools for Advocacy
• Part II (45 mins)
• Small group activity and discussion
• Session Wrap-Up (15-30 mins)
• Sharing/Summary
• Q & A

Why Do We Need to Advocate?

Toiling all by yourself?

Don’t have the tools you need?

Identified Challenges for the SRO

• Structure/Reporting lines
• Understaffing within the office or in other departments
• Ongoing turn-over and institutional change
• New to the job, need professional development
• Lack of control of the office budget (if you even have one!)
• Lack of systems and tools to support SRO activities
• Lack of faculty incentives to seek external funding/buy-in
• Faculty overall well-being, low morale
• Lack of institutional understanding of our roles
• Lack of an “ally” at leadership level and other levels
• Lack of access to information and decision-making, or “seat at the table”

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Areas of Advocacy for the SRO

• New structure(s)
• Personnel
• Non-Personnel (professional development, budgets, software, consultants)
• “Seat at the table” and/or institutional role
• Roles and Responsibilities, either adding them or removing them. There has been “creep” in responsibilities.
• Building internal and external partnerships (e.g., school districts, community engagement offices, alumni)
• General advocacy for research/scholarship/creative activity at your institution

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Understanding where you are in the �SRO Life Cycle

• “The Start-Up Office”
• “The Developing Office”
• “The Mature Office”

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Cuhel-Schuckers, A., Martin-Tetreault, C. and Withers, C. (2016). The grants office and the RA generalist: Parallel life-cycles and development at small PUIs. Journal of Research Administration.

Tools for Advocacy

• Align with institutional strategic planning, goals, and objectives to communicate “what’s in it” for leadership
• “Elevator Pitch” about the role and importance of an SRO, identify broader impact of SRO on scholarship, faculty well-being (not just grants)
• Develop communication strategies to share success stories
• Benchmarking
• Develop meaningful Metrics, have good Data
• Faculty Surveys to identify their priorities and share with others
• Orientation meetings with new faculty, deans, and leadership
• Identify Allies within leadership, staff and faculty, other departments
• Hold Social Events to build relationships and collaborations
• Take on roles as note-takers or observer in meetings that are beneficial
• Proposals for a new structure, budget item, position

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Credit: The Huntington

Small Group Activity and Discussion

• Where are you in the SRO Life Cycle?
• What is your biggest priority for advocacy at this stage?
• Why is this your priority?
• How will this support institutional goals?
• What tools will you use to make your case for this priority?
• What is your first step toward achieving this desired change?
• What is your timeline?
• What allies will you need to recruit to help make your case?

Session Wrap-Up

• Sharing Small Group work
• Q & A
• Other thoughts?

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