Sponsored Program Services (SPS) is developing a comprehensive research administration education program. The program will include in-person interactive learning experiences, online training modules, video tutorials, reference guides, and other workshops and events meant to provide support and professional development for research administrators, faculty, and students involved in research.
For a full list of all SPA Training Team training resources, check out the extensive list on our job aids webpage.
As the program develops, opportunities will be listed below. Please send any suggestions or comments to spa.training@uconn.edu.
SRAI LevelUp!
Are you interested in learning more about research administration?
Sponsored Program Services (SPS) and the SPA Training Team are pleased to introduce our new research administration training initiative, the LevelUp Micro-Credential Program, now available to all UConn and UConn Health staff members.
Developed and maintained by the Society of Research Administrators (SRA) International, the LevelUp program offers online modules and mGuides that cover key topics relevant to today's research administration professionals, including pre-award administration, post-award finance, and regulatory and financial compliance.
These courses are accessible at any time and from any location, allowing for flexible learning. Participants who successfully complete the modules will earn a certificate from SRAI.
The modules typically require 3 to 5 hours to complete and include a randomized exam, while the mGuides take less than an hour and feature knowledge checks throughout.
If you’d like more information about or access to the program, please reach out to spa.training@uconn.edu.
Level One Basics of Research Administration – Instructor-Led
Level One Basics of Research Administration – Instructor-Led
This 7-hour course is taught in two 3.5-hour sessions. Topics include:
- Defining research and research administration at UConn and UConn Health
- Clarifying a sponsored project, its lifecycle, and the roles and responsibilities of all involved
- Exploring the Office of the Vice President for Research and Sponsored Program Services
- Defining agreement, sponsor, and funding types
- Explaining compliance and audit regulations and findings
- Introducing the subjects and terminology of pre and post award management
This is a highly interactive course, meant to deliver a lot of information in a conversational manner to help you retain the information discussed. Participants must have access to a reliable device with audio/video capabilities (laptop/desktop/tablet) to participate in class. Teams will be the platform used to administer the course. Register for classes through Saba. Please Note: classes must have 5 participants to run.
Please email spa.training@uconn.edu with any questions.
Federal Costing Principles – Instructor-Led
Federal Costing Principles - Instructor-Led
OVERVIEW: This course is now offered in two formats. Employees may now opt for either an instructor-led course offered via Teams, or a self-paced, on-demand course. The course description and registration link below is applicable to the instructor-led course.
Participants of the Federal Costing Principles courses will engage in activities designed to help them:
- Confidently explain the importance of Uniform Guidance in research administration
- Evaluate costs to federally funded accounts against Uniform Guidance requirements to ensure compliance
- Make informed and accurate costing decisions using Uniform Guidance requirements as the foundation
- Make use of available UConn/UConn Health resources for questions and assistance
Instructor-led: This 3-hour training is highly interactive. You will be engaging with your peers to solve questions through a variety of interactive exercises. Participants must have access to a reliable device with audio/video capabilities (laptop/desktop/tablet) to participate in class. Teams will be the platform used to administer the course. After you register, a link to participate will be sent by email.
2025-2026 Instructor-led class dates - All classes run from 8:30 am to 12:00 pm
This class may be accessed in Saba.
Federal Costing Principles – Self-Paced, On-Demand Learning
Federal Costing Principles - Self-Paced, On-Demand Learning
OVERVIEW: This course is now offered in two formats. Employees may now opt for either an instructor-led course offered via Teams, or a self-paced, on-demand course. The course description and registration link below is applicable to the self-paced, on-demand course.
Participants of the Federal Costing Principles courses will engage in activities designed to help them:
- Confidently explain the importance of Uniform Guidance in research administration
- Evaluate costs to federally funded accounts against Uniform Guidance requirements to ensure compliance
- Make informed and accurate costing decisions using Uniform Guidance requirements as the foundation
- Make use of available UConn/UConn Health resources for questions and assistance
e-Learning Course - This self-paced, on-demand module should take approximately 20 minutes to complete. Participants will engage in several activities designed to test your knowledge and increase subject retention.
For questions, contact spa.training@uconn.edu.
This class may be accessed in Saba.
Subawards – Self-Paced, On-Demand Learning
Introduction to Subawards Self-Paced, On-Demand module!
This self-guided, 20-minute module will discuss the basics about the theory of subawards, including:
- the definition of a subaward,
- a review of common subaward terminology,
- a discussion about Cost Composition and Modified Total Direct Costs.
This class may be accessed in Saba.
Effort Reporting and Commitments – Self-Paced, On-Demand Learning
Effort Reporting and Commitments - Self-Paced, On-Demand module
Overview:
This self-paced, 30-minute training module provides an overview of effort reporting at UConn, along with general effort reporting concepts. We strongly recommend completing Level One: Basics of Research Administration before beginning this module.
This class may be accessed in Saba.
Training Videos and NCURA Webinars
Training Videos and NCURA Webinars can be found on the OVPR-SPS NCURA Webinars Channel (NetID Logon required).
NIH Upcoming Events and Recordings of Past Events
Explore the extensive listings provided on the NIH Calendar of Events page to enrich your understanding of NIH grants policies, funding, and processes. Discover upcoming conferences, webinars, and more to attend, as well as opportunities to unlock resources from past events. Dive in and elevate your knowledge today. Scroll down the page for past events or use the left side navigation to view On-Demand Event Resources and more content!
CRA Exam Study Buddies
So you want to study for the Certified Research Administrator (CRA) exam?
Do yourself a huge favor and join the Virginia Tech Study Group!
They maintain a comprehensive program that includes weekly topics, daily study tips, and more! To join the VT CRA Study Group, go to their website and click on the topic “How do I get involved with the study team?”. Please read all the information on their page as it gives you a lot of information about the exam as well as the study group.
If you want a study buddy, add your name to our CRA Study Buddy spreadsheet and reach out to the people already on the list! If you no longer want people to contact you, please return to the spreadsheet to delete your information. This spreadsheet is not monitored. If you see any problems, please email spa.training@uconn.edu.
NYU Research Administration Demonstration Series
NYU has a free research administration webinar series that anyone can attend. The 2026 season consists of 19 sessions throughout the year.
Please RSVP for any RAD sessions via our online registration.
All current RAD materials (slides/videos from Fall 2021-present) are available via the RAD 2021-2026 google drive folder. All historical RAD content from The New School (slides/videos held before October 2021) are still available. Audience members are encouraged to send questions ahead of the session to david.ngo@nyu.edu and we can incorporate into the session
The goal of RAD is to provide information/knowledge sharing for all research administrators.
All RAD sessions are taught by national level, expert presenters. All RAD sessions are free ($0 cost).
For more information about the program and each session, please read this NYU RAD Series announcement.
UConn Fiscal Institute for Training (FIT)
The SPA Training Program collaborates with and presents a module during FIT training. We encourage all fiscal staff and local research administrators to take this course.
The Fiscal Institute for Training (FIT) is committed to providing fiscal staff at the school, department or unit level at the University of Connecticut with the knowledge, information, tools and professional networks to be proficient in their key job responsibilities. The Institute, through its comprehensive training program, will deliver the necessary resources to build a professional and collegial business community focused on:
- Improving the efficiency of operations
- Achieving compliance with University and state policies and procedures, and state and federal regulations
- Achieving consistency and standardization in the application of business processes
- Improving the internal control environment of the institution
You can find more information at the FIT Website or contact Jonathan Montano at jonathan.montano@uconn.edu for more information on upcoming sessions.
