ORSP Division of Sponsored Programs Administration

Robin Buchannon, PhD, CRA, Assistant Vice Chancellor
Scottie Casey, CRA, Assistant Director - Post-Award
Mickey McLaurin, Assistant Director - Pre-Award

The mission of the Division of Sponsored Programs Administration is to provide professional support services for University of Mississippi faculty and staff who receive funding for research or other sponsored projects from federal, state, or private agencies and organizations.

Primary Goals ~

  • To assist faculty and staff in the pursuit of externally funded research projects.
  • To ensure that the University is in full compliance with UM policies, procedures, and all other regulations governing grant and contract awards.

Primary Functions ~

  • Pre-Award Services – Provide support for faculty and staff pursuing research projects funded by federal, state, corporate, or private agencies and organizations, including:
    • Collect and disseminate information about funding opportunities;
    • Assist in proposal development and in the interpretation of guidelines;
    • Provide guidance on budget development and allowable costs;
    • Assist in completing the internal transmittal process;
    • Coordinate and assume responsibility for proposal submission;
    • Provide follow-up consultation on proposals that are denied funding.
  • Post-Award Services – Provide support for faculty and staff who have received external funding for sponsored projects, including:
    • Review and negotiate all grant and contract awards on behalf of the University;
    • Accept each award and authorize account set-up for principal investigators/project directors;
    • Inform principal investigators/project directors of the terms and conditions of awards, including compliance issues;
    • Collect and maintain official university files of grants, contracts, subcontracts, and reports;
    • Assist with fiscal aspects of UM grants and contracts;
    • Work directly with the UM offices of Accounting and Procurement to ensure fiscal and programmatic award compliance;
    • Negotiate, design and issue subcontracts on behalf of the University;
    • Process amendments, modifications, extensions, and terminations of contracts and subcontracts on behalf of the University;
    • Monitor technical, patent, equipment, fiscal, final and other report submission;
    • Assist the ORSP Division of Technology Management with developing and issuing agreements related to faculty research with commercially viable technology;
    • Work with principal investigators/project directors regarding grants management issues (e.g. obtaining prior agency approval for programmatic and budget revisions; preparing and issuing consulting and subcontract agreements);
    • Serve as liaison to outside professional and contracting agencies;
    • Coordinate the management and reporting of federal property;
    • Monitor subcontract payments and equipment purchases;
    • Develop and implement policies and procedures related to post-award sponsored program activities;
    • Compile reports of sponsored program activities.