Skip to main content

Research Administration Professional instructional Development system (RAPiDs)

About the Program

The Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) is excited to release the Carolina RAPiDs (Research Administration Professional instructional Development system) that is designed to provide a comprehensive training program for research administrators at UNC.

Carolina RAPiDs is a useful resource for new research administrators as well as those who want to expand on their knowledge base in the field. Completing Core curriculum in Carolina RAPiDs will also lead to the Carolina RAPiDs Certification in Research Administration..

How it Works

Carolina RAPiDs Certification in Research Administration is comprised of three initial Cores of study: the Foundations Core, the Proposal Core, and the Post-Award Core. Each core covers knowledge in their respective areas of Research Administration and completion of each core earns a Certification for that core.

If you complete the Foundations Core, you will receive a Foundations Core Certificate. To receive a Proposal Core Certificate, you must complete both the Foundations Core and Proposal Core. To receive a Post-Award Certificate, you must complete both the Foundations Core and Post-Award Core.

Completion of all 3 Cores of study (or all 3 Certificates), garners the full Carolina RAPiDs Certification in Research Administration.

Carolina RAPiDs: Foundations + Proposal + Post Award = Certificate

About the Cores

Each core will include courses that cover broad concepts, for example, Regulations that Govern Research. Within each course, modules will provide detailed information for that concept, such as Understanding the Compliance Hierarchy. Completion of each module within a course is required to advance to the next course and completion of all courses within a core garners a Certificate for the core.

The current cores in process are the Foundations Core, the Proposal Core and the Post Award Core.

Foundations Core

This first core provides an overview of research administration and covers the knowledge basics needed to be a research administrator at UNC. The first course released in Foundations is titled The Research and Regulatory Environment at UNC; the subsequent courses in this core will be released throughout the coming months.

Courses in the Foundations Core:

  1. The Research and Regulatory Environment at UNC – Released
  2. Introduction to Research Administration – Released
  3. Sponsored Projects Overview – Released
  4. Financial Concepts – Released
  5. Sponsored Projects Management
  6. Subagreement Overview
  7. Compliance Overview

Proposal Core

The second core focuses in depth on proposal topics that range from finding funding, proposal creation, review and submission. This core will focus heavily on processes and resources at UNC. Completing the Foundations core is not a pre-requisite to the Proposal Core; however, Foundations is required to earn a Proposal Certificate.

Post-Award Core

The third core provides in depth guidance on post-award topics and informs on how to manage awarded agreements using industry standards with a specific focus on UNC specific requirements. Completing the Foundations core is not a pre-requisite to the Post-Award Core; however, Foundations is required to earn a Post-Award Certificate.

Training transitioned to UNC Canvas platform

In order to access course materials, users will need to log in with their UNC onyen and enroll in the Carolina RAPiDs Foundations Core course.

Existing RAPiDs Users

Once enrolled, existing RAPiDs users with a UNC onyen will be able to see where they left off in their RAPiDs training and continue to the next course module. Users who wish to go back to review completed modules may do so at any time.

New Users without a UNC onyen

If you are new to RAPiDs training and do not have a UNC onyen, please contact OSPTraining@unc.edu to be set-up with a non-Onyen login account.

For questions regarding this training program, please email OSPTraining@unc.edu.

Get Started in Canvas

In order to access course materials, users will need to log in with their UNC onyen and enroll in the Carolina RAPiDs Foundations Core course on Canvas. Use the video link below for a demonstration of how to enroll in and navigate the course.