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Sally Binkowski had been working at her research administration job for years, with virtually nothing in the way of on-the-job training. “Once in a while there would be a little presentation on, for example, training grants. But there was nothing comprehensive available,” says Binkowski, administrator at the Center for Gastrointestinal Biology and Disease. “Folks like me learned by hit or miss.”
But in 2004, the Office of Sponsored Research (OSR) came up with an idea that has since blossomed into a popular training destination: the Tar Heel Certificate Program in Research Administration. Binkowski was on board as soon as she heard about it. And she wasn’t alone.
“With the first class, we wanted to take 30 people, but we ended up with 80 because so many people were interested,” said Phyllis Daugherty, director of training and development in OSR, who helped start the program. People like it, Daugherty said, because they get information to do their jobs—but also because they can network with their colleagues. “They get to know each other over time,” she said.
The program is a series of half-day workshops, held once a month, on topics such as regulatory issues, financial management, and the history and current role of research administrators. To participate, employees must have at least two years experience in research administration (“so they know the lingo,” Daugherty said). The nomination process involves filling out an application and getting a recommendation letter from a dean, director, or department head.
“We started this program because there was a demand for it, and the response has been even stronger than we expected,” said Jim Peterson, associate vice chancellor for research and director of OSR. “Our staff in research at Carolina is motivated to do a good job. Having better-trained research administrators will help the individuals themselves, OSR, and all of Carolina.”
Binkowski said the program had three major strengths that helped her at work. First, she says, it was comprehensive — tying together different topics that overlap, rather than offering them as separate, pick-and-choose subjects. Second, there was a real effort to encourage class participation, she says. “I learned more on some topics from the other participants than I could have at a dozen lectures.” But the most important feature to Binkowski was that the program is offered here at UNC. “No one had to travel or find funding to take part in it. On the contrary, it was our own institution recognizing the needs of employees and responding in a way that benefited both the participants and the institution.”
Provided by Research and Economic Development.
Editor: Neil Caudle
Writer: Colie Hoffman