The Research Administrator’s Playbook: Essential Policies & Guidelines

Gain a comprehensive and practical understanding of key University policies and guidelines that affect research administration. This workshop will highlight how, when, and why each policy or guideline influences tasks throughout the research and innovation lifecycle. Whether you are new to research administration or seeking a refresher, this session will equip you with the knowledge and confidence to navigate the regulatory landscape.

Learning Outcomes

1. Recognize the importance of select policies and how they impact day-to-day tasks in the research & innovation lifecycle.
2. Locate these policies and guidelines, identify the appropriate contact, and determine when to ask questions about a specific policy or guideline.
3. Apply select policies and guidelines to complete research administrator tasks successfully and identify common pitfalls in their application.
    

Key Takeaways

1. The Governing Council's Research Administration Policy defines general principles and procedures for the development and approval of research projects & to support the administration of research funding.​
2. The Principal Investigator (PI) Eligibility Guideline establishes eligibility to be a PI at the University of Toronto - all applicants are also subject to the eligibility guidelines of the research sponsor​.
3. Procurement policies exist to protect fairness, transparency, and accountability – they ensure public funds are spent responsibly.​
4. When the Guide to Financial Management and the research fund sponsor policy differ regarding expense eligibility, the stricter policy applies.​​
5. Inventions developed at the University using university resources and facilities must be disclosed to the Innovations & Partnerships office for processing.​