|
|
Initiation of Projects
The steps in the following section need not occur in the
indicated sequence.
1. A project may be initiated in several ways.
Frequently, a faculty member approaches a prospective
sponsor with a project idea. Faculty may also receive a
general request for proposals aimed at the academic
community or a special request from a sponsor to do a
certain project, e.g., a federal Request for Proposals
(RFPs), a pharmaceutical company. s request to do a
clinical trial study, or a request to establish an
internship program. In the latter case, the faculty
member reviews the sponsor request to determine its
appropriateness for his or her research/scholarly
activity.
Contact with the potential sponsor at this point is
highly advisable. It can clarify the appropriateness of the
project for ECU and help build enthusiasm on the part of
the sponsor for our response to their solicitation.
After initial contact with a prospective sponsor, the
sponsor may require the faculty and/or institutional
officials to sign certain documents before beginning
preliminary discussions on a project. OSP should review
these documents prior to signature by the faculty. This
review will help protect your future rights. Such
documents may contain confidentiality agreements
and/or protocols containing contractual language.
TIP: Concerned about confidentiality and priority if
you take your hot ideas to a corporate sponsor? Contact
OSP. OSP will prepare a confidentiality agreement to
protect your interests.
2. Faculty meets with OSP to discuss feasibility: OSP
and faculty determine whether there is sufficient time
to respond to the request prior to the deadline; whether
adequate technical expertise and resources are
available for the project; what university clearances are
required; and what sponsor requirements may need to
be negotiated.
3. Faculty discusses prospective project with Chair
(and Dean, if appropriate) and elicits their support.
The departmental/school resources to be used in the
project and any cost sharing (e.g., uncompensated
faculty/staff salaries) that are to be included in the
proposal as ECU. s contribution should be discussed.
TIP: Early consultation with Chairs/Deans is
particularly important if significant department or
school resources are to be used in the project and/or the
sponsor requires cost sharing. Their signatures of
support will be required on the University processing
forms discussed below.
Back to Table of Contents
|
|
