The Office of Sponsored Programs and Research (OSPR) is responsible for the review, submission, and acceptance of University-based research, training, technical assistance, or educational projects involving funds, materials, or other compensation from outside sources.
The President of Clark University designates the Associate Provost and Dean of Research as the authorizing official responsible for implementing research policy with advice and counsel of the Research Board. The Dean also supports and oversees OSPR in the administration, management and compliance of externally-funded university-based research.
Because external funding imposes certain legal obligations on the University with respect to its use, management, and accountability, OSPR works with a range of other University offices, and members of the faculty to ensure the effective management of the sponsored programs process.
Clark University strongly supports and encourages outside grants and contracts for sponsored activity.
The University promotes proposals that:
- Conform with the recognized objectives of Clark University and sponsor policies and procedures.
- Impose no restriction upon the publication of research results unless a clear national emergency requires such limitation.
- Represent genuine research and educational interests of the principal investigator or project director.
In general, proposals for sponsored projects must meet the following terms and conditions:
- A line of scholarly or scientific inquiry, specified to a substantial level of detail.
- A line-item budget that details expenses by activity, function, or project period.
- Terms that specify deliverables that include technical reports, or performance objectives such as a specified time and place of service delivery or activity milestones.
- Terms that specify fiduciary commitments such as financial reports, audits, and/or an obligation to return unexpended funds at the conclusion of the project.
- Terms that provide for the disposition of either or intangible properties, which may result from the project. Tangible properties include equipment, records, technical reports, theses, or dissertations. Intangible properties include data, copyrights, or inventions.