Program supports research enterprise
Chartered in July of last year through the sponsorship of Rick Shangraw, vice president for Research and Economic Affairs, the Enhance program is identifying and completing the necessary enhancements to ASU’s research infrastructure that will support growth of the research enterprise to $350 million by 2012.
Enhance was developed to ensure that all research administration staff have the appropriate training and resources to complete their assigned responsibilities.
Creating an atmosphere that encourages cooperation and communication, as well as universal training of all staff whose jobs impact research and sponsored projects administration, is one of several enhancements.
“The participation of research advancement staff is essential to the Enhance program,” says Gary Delago, part of the Enhance Project Team and assistant director of ORSPA. “Research advancement team members are administrative staff from all four campuses that support sponsored project activities in the departments and colleges.”
Enhance will continue to improve the research administration process at ASU. They have created the SuperReport, established formalized career progressions for Research Advancement staff, and deployed an electronic routing tool for the Proposal Routing and Approval Form. In the future, Enhance plans to implement new tools for managing research activities, from the project’s start to close, and a new research administration Web site.
“We’ve got great people working in research administration here at ASU. This project is about providing processes, tools and training to make their jobs more efficient and rewarding,” says Tamara Deuser, project manager for Enhance.
Moreover, Enhance representatives have met with more than 50 percent of all ASU colleges and departments, including the Biodesign Institute, the Fulton School of Engineering and the College of Design, to review the process, responsibilities and potential organizational structure that best meets the needs of ASU researchers.
For more information on the Enhance program visit http://pride.asu.edu/management/enhance.shtml.
Debra N. Fossum, debra.fossum@asu.edu
Office of Research and Economic Affairs