Policies & Procedures

About Research Administration at GSU

Policies and Procedures for Research and Sponsored Programs

Policies and Procedures for Research and Sponsored Programs

Institutional Review and Approval of Proposals

Background

All proposals for externally sponsored support that are subject to regulatory or sponsor restrictions or that involve a commitment of university resources must be reviewed and approved by Authorized Representatives of the appropriate academic (Dean and Chair) and administrative (ORSSP and Provost) units prior to submission to sponsors.  If external proposals are submitted without proper review and approvals prior to submission, any resulting award acceptance is dependent upon completion of the standard internal approval process. 

In such cases where a proposal is submitted without prior review/approval, there is the risk of the award not being accepted, or a delay in accessing funds.  Additionally, if a project is solicited by a third-party, and work is performed on this project in absence of a recognized and fully-executed sponsored program (grant or contract), the principal investigator alone maintains ultimate liability for any and all requirements of the research program. Further, the principal investigator must reimburse the University for any and all costs associated with the use of University resources commonly associated with the pursuit of this research.

Process

The Internal Approval Form provides critical information and certifications for sponsored programs to the Dean, department, research administration and institutional officials regarding the proposal.  The Internal Approval Form is part of the proposal submission process and serves as a checklist for processing proposals and compliance certifications required for proposal submission.  The ORSSP can provide assistance with developing a project budget, completing the Internal Approval Form, and coordinating institutional reviews/approvals by the Authorized Representatives of the academic and administrative units. 

More information is available on the Proposal Development section of the ORSSP website.

The ORSSP must receive the completed proposal materials, including an Internal Approval Form signed by the unit Chair, at least 5 business days in advance of the submission deadline.