ASPIRE Course Descriptions

• Audit Issues
• Case Studies
• Cost Transfers
• Effort Reporting
• Emerging Issues in Research Compliance
• Federal Circulars
• Financial Reporting Tools
• Fundamentals: Basics of Financial Administration 1
• Fundamentals: Basics of Financial Administration 2
• Fundamentals: Basics of Sponsored Programs
• Grants.Gov: Learn the 424
• New Research Administrators' Orientation
• Subcontracts & Multi-Project Grants
• Training Grants & Fellowships

Audit Issues

Be ready for the unexpected. Do you ever wonder "Why me?" when you find out that your department's grants are being audited? Understand what types of audits may come your way and how you can prepare for them. We will present the tools available to you for surviving an A-133 audit, a review from RMAS, or a Federal audit. HMS and University resources will be highlighted so that you know you are not in it alone. This class is your opportunity to ask why these audits happen and what you can do to make them less painful.

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Case Studies

This popular class will use the case-study approach to examine common, but sometimes difficult problems in grants management. Allocation of effort, cost-sharing, cost transfers, allowability of costs, and A-133 audit issues are just some of the topics this course will address.

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Cost Transfers

Attend this class if you are a new grants manager or if you want a refresher about cost transfers-what they are, which charges are eligible for transfer, what documentation is required, the time frames for submitting cost transfer requests, and where to send them. This class will provide an overview of the policy with case study examples of allowable and unallowable cost transfers. It will also explain special categories that do not require additional documentation and extenuating circumstances that provide appropriate justification for a transfer after 90 days.

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Effort Reporting

This class will review the procedures for the Annual Faculty Effort and Salary Certification and Monthly Effort/Salary Certification Process. The session will focus on the Federal requirements, Harvard policies, and the HMS process. We will review the forms and who should sign them. We will also address some of the nuances of translating time into effort and effort into salary, and review how retroactive entries affect effort reporting and how cost sharing is included in the forms.

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Emerging Issues in Research Compliance

Learn how you can be proactive in reducing inadvertent acts of non-compliance at HMS. This presentation by the Office of Research Compliance will provide information on how to best stay on top of developing issues in research compliance.

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Federal Circulars

The foundation for ensuring appropriate management of research funds are the rules or circulars established by the Office of Management and Budget and the institutional policies and procedures that assure compliance with these circulars. This course will focus entirely on the OMB circulars that govern Federal grants management at educational institutions (A21, A110, and A133). The purpose, key definitions and elements of each of these circulars will be reviewed while pointing out their direct relevance and implementation at HMS.

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Financial Reporting Tools

This class will demonstrate and explain the capabilities of GMAS and CREW. Prospective, new, and experienced users of these two financial reporting tools will benefit from this presentation.

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Fundamentals: Basics of Financial Administration 1

The first of a two part session that covers the basics of post-award administration. The "Lifecycle of an Award" is used as a framework to touch on various components of managing sponsored funds after they have been awarded by the sponsor. This session will cover award receipt, account set-up, Harvard's Chart of Accounts, financial tools, financial reporting, cash management and the closeout and disabling process. Some topics will be covered at a high level in an attempt to orient new administrators to the various tools and processes they should be aware of when managing sponsored funds.

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Fundamentals: Basics of Financial Administration 2

The second of a two part session that covers the basics of post-award administration. This session provides an overview of the policies and procedures that administrators should be aware of when managing sponsored awards at Harvard. In addition to providing background on Federal guidelines the session also focuses on local policies such as cost transfers, cost sharing, effort reporting, interest and the HMS Sponsored Expenditure Policy. A summary of post-award roles and responsibilities will also be covered to help reinforce everyone's understanding of where particular roles/departments fit in the process.

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Fundamentals: Basics of Sponsored Programs

This course cover the basics of HMS pre-award proposal submission, finding sources of funding, award types, major requirements and components of a grant application including budget development, the NIH peer review process, overview of legal framework of research administration, and functions and services of the Sponsored Programs office.

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Grants.Gov: Learn the 424

This class is for anyone new to grants.gov. That's everyone! Be prepared for your first grants.gov submission by learning the secrets of the new 424 R&R forms. Preparing your computer (Mac or PC) and SPA's electronic submission business process will also be covered.

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New Research Administrators' Orientation

Familiarize yourself with the research administration community at HMS. This annual offering will help new HMS administrators hit the ground running.

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Subcontracts & Multi-Project Grants

Multi-institutional awards can present several challenges to the research administrator. This session will cover the process of proposing a multi-institutional arrangement (subcontract), preparation of budgets, and obtaining the necessary approvals to assure that the administrative aspects of the research collaboration run smoothly. The session will cover the subcontract, affiliated agreement, Federal requirements for sub-recipient monitoring, invoicing and payment issues, and strategies for effective management of these complex awards.

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Training Grants & Fellowships

Training and Career Development awards are critical to the HMS mission to develop well-trained investigators and to provide research opportunities for students. However, these award mechanisms differ from the average R01, and understanding and implementing the rules and regulations can be a challenge. Come to this session to learn how to navigate these awards from the experts in SPA and the Division of Medical Sciences, who have training grants down to a science.

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