RSO enters a new E.R.A.

Introducing Education for Research Administrators (ERA)

Research Administrators rejoice: RSO introduces a new series of workshops exclusively for U of A employees involved in research administration. The first offering of these workshops is June 1. The 50-minute sessions run throughout the day. Topics include:

• Research Administration 101
• Eligible and Ineligible Expenditures and Applications
• Hiring and Payment to Research Personnel
• What's new at RSO
• Policies and Procedures Relating to Research Administration
• Leadership and Mentorship
• Managing SSHRC Grants and Projects
• Managing Health Sciences Grants and projects

To view workshop descriptions, the schedule and to register for any or all workshops, visit the new ERA page on the RSO website.

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Don't get L-EFT behind

What to do when sponsors use Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) of research funds

In an effort to reduce costs and improve payment security and efficiency, sponsors may prefer to remit their payments directly to the University's bank account. This process is known as Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT).

In order to ensure that EFT funds are correctly identified and allocated to the right research project, an Incoming EFT Customer Payment Information Form needs to be completed and sent to Financial Services.

For additional details (including the form) please refer to the Electronic funds Transfer (EFT) Incoming Payment Procedure.

For future reference, this information is on the RSO website here, under Receiving Research Funding.

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"Tri" to summarize it

RSO introduces Tri-Council Eligible Expenses Summaries

Your Research Facilitators have created summaries of the guides to funding in downloadable, PDF format and these are posted on the RSO website. Now, rather than navigating the long guides on the NSERC, SSHRC and CIHR websites, you can have a handy reference of what expenses are eligible to be charged to Tri-Council research projects.

Get the summaries on the Eligible Expenses page on the RSO website.

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Farewell to the North

Peter North leaves RSO

Bill McBlain announced the departure of Peter North from the Research Services Office (RSO), effective May 9. Peter has been with the RSO since 2003 and has served as Associate Director for RSO and lead for the RSO Finance Team.

Peter has played key roles in a number of areas including the preparation and hosting of the Tri-Council Monitoring Visit in 2005, recent work on the PeopleSoft e-TRAC reporting instrument, and early work on the PeopleSoft Research Grants and Contracts Modules. His leadership will be greatly missed in the RSO and we wish him the very best in his new endeavours.

Effective immediately, and in the interim, please contact the following individuals:

General inquiries
your Faculty Research Facilitator

CFI/CRC related inquiries
Tamin Pretty

Natural sciences, social sciences, engineering and general reporting inquiries
Michael Walesiak

Health sciences and general accounts receivables inquiries
Susan Mattson

eTRAC-related inquiries
Eunice Wood

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On TRAC for project holders

eTRAC access turned on for project holders

The Electronic Tracking of Research Awards and Contracts (eTRAC) system is now available for project holders. All principal investigators (PIs) eligible to hold a project per University and sponsor policy have automatic access to their project in eTRAC.

PIs who are not also project holders (e.g., for projects that must be held by the Dean or Chair, etc.) must be added to the eTRAC Access team for their project.  Request access by completing the Request for Administrative Applications Access - PeopleSoft eTRAC: Project Access (Word) form in the Financial Services Forms Cabinet under the heading "PeopleSoft Access."

Researchers can contact their Research Facilitator to arrange eTRAC training.

Download the eTRAC Researchers Learning Summary.

Visit the eTRAC page on the RSO website.

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