Office of Research and Sponsored Programs ~
Division of Sponsored Programs Administration

Robin Buchannon, Ph.D., CRA, Director of Sponsored Programs Administration
Scottie Casey, CRA, Assistant Director of Sponsored Programs Administration, Post-Award
Mickey McLaurin, Assistant Director of Sponsored Programs Administration, 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 ~

• The University to be in full compliance with federal, state, and other regulations on all grant and contract awards.
• All sponsored program activities to be in full compliance with all UM policies and procedures.

Primary Functions ~

• 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;
• Oversee 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 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;
• Provide other related sponsored program activity as needed.