I Got You Babe! Partnering Between the Central Office

and DepartmentsDerick Jones

Departmental Financial ManagerMedical Genetics Institute

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

Wayne BrownDirector of Finance

Neuroscience Center Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Teresa HendrixAssistant Director

Office of Sponsored ResearchTexas Christian University

Historical Relationships and Challenges

• These are the Institution’s polices• Did/do you understand the polices• You are only a department• I am the Central Office

Central

Departments

Thus the battle continues

A Cultural Shift took place

Central Offices • Policy and procedures • Audit

Departmental• Interpretation

Central and Department• More with less • Lack of Professional

Development• Cultural perception• Cross Training from

Cradle to Grave

We are a TEAM

Challenges and Hurdles to Successful Partnering

• The Mt. Olympus Complex• Dumb and Dumber Syndrome• The “Terrible Twos” of Research• The calamity of missed

communication• Identity Crisis

From Olympus to the Trenches

• It’s a mental perception

Sesame Street or Teletubbie?

• How basic do I have to get for them to get it?

Ownership• Who’s grant is it anyway?

Language Barriers• Communication is the Key

Understanding your Role• Clear definitions of roles in the

cycle of grants.

Bonus: Sharing is caring• Sharing information: The cradle to

grave approach.

Solutions for Successful Partnering

• Bridging the Gap between Department and Central

• Training is Fundamental• Information Sharing• Enhanced Communication• Learning Your role in the cycle

Bridging the Gap• Develop a working relationship

• Create a sense of Partnership

• Foster a shared vision from an intuitional perspective

Training and Development• Do a needs assessment for the department on your current

resources• Focus on a broad approach to training that involves both

central and department.

• Create working groups designed to address challenges in research administration that are impacting your institution.

Information is the key to success• Create a central resource site for shared information

• Create training modules and brownbag sessions

• Plan a day to visit your peers site and study their job and duties

• Promote cross training

• Start a CRA training group

The Beauty of Communication• Listen

• Learn the language of your peers

• Create Opportunities for dialogue

Everyone has a role

• Understand everyone’s role in the cycle of a grant

• Understand the importance of cross training

• Work expeditiously and continuously to bridge the gap

No Path? Power of Choice: Make One

•Does your institution have a formal training program for career advancement?

•Does your institution have an informal training program for career advancement such as mentoring? Ask someone you trust to mentor you…

•Does your HR department offer learning series? If not, make the suggestion!

•On-campus lectures in the School of Management/Business or other applicable academic disciplines.

I got you Babe!Be the agent of Change – It starts with you

Questions?

Thank You! • Derick Jones

jonesdf@cshs.org(310) 423-6463

• Wayne Brown• wayneb@andromeda.rutgers.edu

• (973) 353-3305

• Teresa Hendrix• teresa.m.miles@tcu.edu

• (817) 257-7516