Sponsored Program Workshops and Trainings

Training

Expand FAQ List

  • Join us on the first Tuesday each month for our comprehensive Budget Development Training Series, delivered via Microsoft Teams. This series comprises three structured courses designed to enhance your proficiency in budget development at Texas State University. Whether you are new to budgeting or seeking to refine advanced skills, our rotating monthly schedule ensures there is always an opportunity to engage.

    Title: Beginning Budget Development

    Objective: This training provides a comprehensive introduction to budget development, focusing on the use of the internal budget development spreadsheet at Texas State University.

    Overview:

    • Budget Categories: An overview of budget categories used in budget development at Texas State University.
    • Indirect Costs: Detailed explanation of Modified Total Direct Costs (MTDC) vs. Total Direct Costs (TDC) and how they impact budget calculations.
    • Information sources: Key sources of information used in budgeting processes.
    • Introduction to Tools: A guide to navigating and using the budget development spreadsheet effectively.
    • Intended Users: Ideal for faculty and staff involved in budget preparation, particularly beneficial to research administrators (research coordinators).

    Key Features of Budget Development Spreadsheet:

    • Lockable Formulas: Ensures consistency and prevents inadvertent formula changes.
    • Comprehensive Budget Categories: Includes all standard categories required by federal sponsors.
    • Supplementary Information: Offers detailed definitions and guidelines for understanding budget categories such as participant costs and equipment classification.
    • Dynamic Tables: Features adjustable tables for cost-of-living adjustments, calculating annual effort hours, FTE percentages, and projecting monthly salaries with annual increases.
    • Specialized Calculators: Equipped with dedicated tabs for calculating travel costs, effort hours, months of effort, and Full-Time Equivalents (FTE).

    Training Content:

    • Hands-On Walkthrough: Participants will be guided through each budget category, exploring calculation methodologies and applications.
    • Practical Applications: Demonstrations on the practical usage of the spreadsheet to ensure understanding and proficiency.
    • Interactive Q&A Session

    Benefits:

    • Enhanced Accuracy: Promotes the creation of precise and reliable budget estimates.
    • Standardization: Aims to standardize budgeting practices across the university.
    • Time Efficiency: Helps reduce the time required for preparation of budget revisions, optimizing workflow.
    • Resource for Proposal Development: Serves as an essential tool for faculty and staff engaged in preparing grant proposals.

    Duration: Approximately 2 hours

Expand FAQ List

  • Life Cycle of the Award Series

    • The Proposal Development video webinar is a three part series that covers the essentials of proposal development from inception through submission. Part I begins with proposal planning and review of the project and the application requirements. Part II continues with a session on the budget and justification and is completed with a session on preparation and submission. Part III will include discussion of proposal planning, logistics, financial and compliance considerations. There will be full series dedicated to budgeting later in the Life Cycle series. The panel will provide guidance for the proposal lifecycle. While some of the material will be basic and introductory, there will be additional details that will benefit experienced learners and will provide ample opportunities for discussion and training at institutions.

      • Part 1 – proposal planning, review of the project, and application requirements – February 1, 2024
      • Part 1 - Q&A – February 27, 2024
      • Part 2 – budget and justification – February 22, 2024
      • Part 2 - Q&A – March 25, 2024
      • Part 3 – proposal planning, logistics, financial and compliance considerations – March 21, 2024
      • Part 3 - Q&A – April 15, 2024

    • The Award Monitoring & Award Management webinars focus on award management strategies and techniques for both the central and departmental research administrator tasked with financial oversight of sponsored awards. This workshop will focus on what to look for during award initiation and award close out, as well as discuss strategies for how the research administrator can best support the PI during the period of performance to maximize award spending, while effectively managing risk. Furthermore, this online workshop will review some perennial hot topics such as cost transfers, subaward monitoring, cost sharing and effective and efficient award close outs.

      • Award Monitoring & Award Management Part 1 – April 18, 2024
      • Part 1 (Award) Q&A Session - May 13, 2024
      • Award Monitoring & Award Management Part II – May 16, 2024
      • Part II (Award) Q&A Session – June 10, 2024

    • Are you ready to start building your sponsored project or idea, but don't know what and how much to ask for? If preparing a budget for your grant or contract is daunting for you, come learn the basic elements of how to draft a project budget with confidence. An effective budget can be a productive tool in driving towards your goals for the entire life of the project. We also need to ensure that we have the funds needed to complete the project successfully and do not to leave resources on the table. This 3 part session will walk through the development of a project budget including: what costs need to be covered, categorization of budget costs by differing sponsors, utilizing the appropriate rates as required and more.

      • Basic Components of a project budget
      • How to estimate the realistic cost of a project
      • What other documents you may need to submit your proposal

    • The webinars feature discussion of a variety of compliance topics essential to the knowledge of every research administrator. This three-hour workshop will cover the basics of institutional committee review for biosafety, human research participants, and animal research, as well as export compliance, conflict of interest, and research misconduct. True-life examples will highlight the importance of knowing where to find expertise and resources at your institution and beyond, creating a “compliance network".

      • Basics of institutional committee review for biosafety, human research participants, and animal research.
      • Compliance, conflict of interest, and research misconduct are also covered.