Services

Search Services

The Grants Specialist can search for federal, state and private funding for program needs of the Chancellor’s Office and System University collaborations.  The Grant Search Request form can be used to request searches. 

The Grants Specialist has access to key databases of federal funding opportunities, national foundations and state agency activity.  These are checked on a weekly basis and information is disseminated to key individuals throughout the System and within the Chancellor’s Office.  The distribution includes Chief Academic Officers and/or Grant Officers at all System Universities, working collaborative committees composed of administrators and faculty, and to key managers in the Office of the Chancellor for further dissemination to University contacts, such as Social Equity or Facilities Management.

Proposal Development Services

The Grants Specialist will work closely with Project Directors and/or Principal Investigators (from the Chancellor’s Office or from a University Collaborative) during the formative stages of a specific grant proposal.  The Grants Specialist will:

• Assist in development of the program concept and the business plan.
• Ensure that all affected System offices are informed of the proposal. 
• Provide completed standardized forms, background information and letters of support for inclusion in the proposal.
• Assist with the budget preparation to the extent requested.
• Provide the final editing and secure internal approvals prior to submission of the proposal.
• Ensure the proposal is consistent with System policies and procedures, federal and state requirements.

Project Directors and/or Principal Investigators are expected to:

• Prepare a proposal abstract and preliminary budget for internal review, and secure department director approval. The Proposal Routing Form and Proposal Budget Summary can be utilized for this purpose.
• Prepare technical and programmatic content, recruit collaborators, secure cost sharing commitments.
• Make the commitment to implement the proposal, if approved, on the promised timeframe.

University Collaborations

When supporting a collaborative effort, the Grants Specialist will work closely with each member University ’s Grant Office.  In many collaborations, the lead applicant on a grant proposal is one System University , with others receiving sub-awards of the grants.  The Project Director and/or Principal Investigator is typically an administrator or faculty member of the lead University.  In other collaborative efforts, the Chancellor’s Office is the lead applicant and the ultimate, responsible grant administrator, sub-awarding funds to System University’s.  An example of the latter model is the many programs administered through the Pennsylvania Academy for the Profession of Teaching and Learning, in the Division of Student and Academic Affairs.

Grant Management

The Grant Specialist serves as resource to Project Directors and/or Principal Investigators on the administrative procedures and requirements they must satisfy.  For example, federal funds carry compliance with OMB Circulars related to Administrative Requirements and Cost Principals.  Other Chancellor’s Office staff will provide critical support in the area of procurement and contracting. The Grant Accountant provides additional support to Project Directors and/or Principal Investigators, by maintaining required financial information for audits and by completing required financial reports.