SIGs: Forging the Future and Acknowledging the Past
Research Administrators (RAs) from across the Commonwealth of Virginia gathered for a conference on Friday, June 14 2024, on the historic grounds of the University of Virginia (UVA). This meeting also marked a historic change in the structure of the Society of Research Administrators International (SRAI). No longer a formal SRAI Chapter, this meeting of Virginia Research Administrators marked the first, approved meeting of a SRAI Special Interest Group (SIG). The SRAI Virginia Chapter, like many other chapters around the country, existed for over 25 years until, by vote of the SRAI Board, chapters were sunset in September 2023. Chapters are now replaced with an annual application process where groups apply to become SIGs to conduct programming and hold meetings at the more local and subregional level.
VA SIG 2024 Meeting Summary
Although the focus of the lead-up to the event was one of change, the overall structure of the 2024 VA SIG meeting resembled meetings in the past, beginning with a keynote speaker followed by morning and afternoon concurrent sessions. A surprise hit of the day was the lightning rounds of six speakers, each presenting briefly in quick succession on topics ranging from highlights of upcoming Uniform Guidance revisions to innovative snippets of RA lessons learned. These talks sparked table conversations and more than a few laughs. The meeting concluded with a panel discussion gathering suggestions for future programming and relaying volunteer opportunities. Feedback received via a follow-up survey confirmed that attendees, including several new members, left inspired with many expressing an interest in participating on a variety of levels going forward.
Turn and Face the Change
As dynamic RA practitioners, the VA SIG group embraced change and turned the new SIG structure into an opportunity to gather, network, share knowledge and identify what our SRA community wants to make of this gathering moving forward. The cliches about change being the only constant, embracing change, letting go of the past, being in the present whilst looking forward, and so on, are true. Virginia SRAI members turned and faced the change and created the first SRAI SIG out of the desire to get together as a vibrant community of practice. The meeting at UVA represented both the embrace of change as a SIG but also the acknowledgment of all the work and years-long benefit preceding this meeting and why it is worthwhile, productive, and positive to want to exchange information, best practices, and network with colleagues. Many shared the relief from remote-fatigue and the positive energy of seeing each other in person.
Benefits of Local and Sub-Regional Meetings
The benefits of a meeting like the VA SIG meeting at UVA are numerous. For starters, and given shrinking travel and professional development budgets, a clear benefit is the cost. For attendees from the host university, which rotates annually, as well as those from nearby universities experiencing budget or time constraints, the meeting is a one- to two-day maximum commitment. This is beneficial to RAs who cannot afford to be away from work or family commitments for an extended period of time. As a bonus, anyone arriving the day before has the option of participating in additional activities, which for the 2024 meeting included an insightful historical tour of the university grounds and museum gallery visit as well as networking opportunities at a dinner event. These optional tours and activities lead to building relationships that last for years. The atmosphere is welcoming especially for new members as well as new presenters. Anyone interested in presenting is encouraged and, if needed, paired with more experienced RAs to form teams of co-presenters, lightning round session groups, and interactive panels. A setting like the VA SIG meeting allows new RAs to gain experience presenting to a live audience in a supportive and low-stakes atmosphere. Individuals have shared in previous years, and again at the panel discussion at the UVA meeting, that meetings like the VA SIG and previous Chapter meetings prepared them well and gave them the confidence to go on to present at larger regional and national meetings. A lot can be accomplished throughout this relatively short period of time!
There’s Always Next Year
Plans and discussions are underway for a meeting next year in the summer of 2025. Given the new SRAI SIG process, we will submit the annual application for the group and associated meeting as soon as a location at a university campus is secured. Identifying a suitable location and a date are usually the first and hardest step in organizing a meeting. With ample time, marketing and spreading the word will be easy. The benefits of the SIG meetings are clear - smaller and more intimate in size, lower cost in time and money, engaging and encouraging for new and junior members, professional development and presentation skills growth, visiting and learning about peer university and campus environments, and networking in person with colleagues in the profession. With all of these benefits, we look forward to the future of SIGs and to the next VA SIG meeting at a campus near you. Sign me up!
Authored by Jose Alcaine, Virginia Commonwealth University
Cathy Short, Virginia Commonwealth University
Rashmi Pershad, George Mason University
Angela Behrend, University of Virginia
Carol Volker, Virginia Tech
Catherine Thompson, University of Virginia
Jessica Guzzo, George Mason University
Kayla Calvo, University of Virginia
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