What You Missed: High-Demand 2026 Catch-Up

US Federal regulations covering data and cybersecurity are changing rapidly and impacting what your organization must do to comply, or risk losing federal funding. There are existing and proposed new rules for the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) related to protecting federal controlled unclassified information (CUI) and federal contract information (FCI). There are now updated rules from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Department of Justice (DOJ) on sensitive data. There are confusing new federal agency rules on cybersecurity as a result of the final Office of Science and Technology (OSTP) final guidance on National Security Presidential Memo 33 (NSPM-33). If you have any federal funding, either directly or via a prime, you will be impacted. This session will cover how to prepare with practical strategies and advice from two certified cybersecurity professionals with decades of experience working with higher ed and research institutions.

Content Level: Basic 

Learning Objectives:

1. Explain the specific timeline and requirements for FAR, NIH, DOJ, NSPM compliance and potential certifications to your organization's leadership.
2. Recognize the strategies and approaches best suited for your organization to successfully meet the requirements.

Speaker(s): Mike Cullen, CISA, CISSP, CIPP/US, CCP/CCA, Principal, Baker Tilly; Matt Gilbert, Principal, Baker Tilly

Indirect costs are a major cost component of all research projects. They are necessary costs for research activities and represent approximately 25-30% of the total project costs. Since February 2025, several agencies have proposed to cap that rate at 15% of Modified Total Direct Costs which would result in a severe loss of reimbursement to research institutes and cripple US research endeavors. The JAG has proposed a brand-new cost model (FAIR Model) to provide more accounting and recovery of actual costs to research. This webinar will highlight the FAIR Model, its status for start date and strategies for implementation, if it becomes a final policy for research cost reimbursements.

Content Level: Intermediate 

Learning Objectives:

1.  Understand the new cost model for research costs reimbursement proposed by the FAIR Model. Comprehend the relations between the former UG cost pools and the new FAIR cost pools.
2. Develop internal plan and strategies for implementation, if the model policy is finalized.

Speaker(s): Robert Cohen, MBA, CPA, Managing Director, Higher Education and Academic Medical Affairs, Attain Partners; Gil Tran, CPA, Senior Specialist Leader, Grants, Attain Partners; Karen Renaud, MBA, CRA, Director of Research Finance, Boston Children's Hospital

The financial management of an organization’s sponsored programs is governed by federal and state regulations and funder requirements. These requirements mean that most sponsored programs don’t fall neatly within an organization’s fiscal year structure, and organizational policies and procedures often need carve outs for sponsored programs. Research administrators need to understand appropriate financial management of sponsored programs and be able to do so in the larger context of the institution’s financial system.  

Join us for the sponsored programs perspective on financial management, from proper utilization of funds and financial reporting, through billing, cash flow, and award closeout as well as the role of compliance.  We’ll discuss how these research administration concepts fit within an organization’s standard financial practices and administration so that attendees can serve as a bridge between sponsored programs and the rest of their organization’s administrators. 

Content Level: Basic

Learning Objectives:

1. Explain how sponsored programs financial operations are similar and different from standard organizational operations
2. Understand financial and reporting obligations in light of regulations and the implications of non-compliance

Speaker(s): Karla Gengler-Nowak, Grants and Contracts Administrator, Ohio State University; Aimee Nielsen-Link, Director, Heath Sciences Office, Ohio State University

Managing proposal intake efficiently is one of the most critical functions in research administration. A well-designed proposal submission form serves as the cornerstone of compliance, workflow efficiency, and data accuracy. This session will explore how institutions can modernize and streamline their proposal submission process using intake forms. Presenters will cover strategies for aligning form content with sponsor requirements, ensuring compliance with internal routing policies, and capturing key metadata (Pl details, deadlines, cost share, and compliance triggers). Attendees will learn how to balance simplicity with thoroughness, design user-friendly forms, and integrate electronic routing systems. Attendees will understand the importance of complete and correct proposal submission information and the significance it has in the post award process. 

Content Level: Basic

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify the essential elements of a proposal submission form to ensure accuracy and compliance and evaluate how form design impacts proposal routing, review, and submission efficiency.
2. Implement process improvements that enhance data collection and reduce administrative workload and understand how the elements when the proposal is awarded are critical for the overall administration of the award.

Speaker(s): Cody Symanietz, Pre-Award Coordinator, The Pennsylvania State University; Alice Puzarowski, Pre-Award Coordinator, The Pennsylvania State University; Donna Kiley, Senior Director Post Award, Florida International University; Sharita Wallace, Director of Pre-Award, Central State University

Research administrators are increasingly expected to support complex policy and compliance environments with limited resources. This session explores how free and open-source AI tools can be used to support the development of policies, procedures, best practices, and internal guidance. Emphasizing practical use cases, the presentation demonstrates how AI can function as a collaborative companion (not a replacement!) for the research administrator.

Content Level: Intermediate 

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify practical ways to use free, open-source AI tools to support the development of research administration policies, procedures, and best practices.
2.  Apply strategies for integrating AI as a collaborative tool while maintaining professional judgment, compliance awareness, and institutional accountability.

Speaker(s): Jeff Derr, Manager, Attain Partners

This session will provide a practical understanding of basic contract law principles and their application in sponsored research. Whether you're a non-lawyer who negotiates contracts or a lawyer new to research administration, this session offers context for the terms and conditions found in nearly every research contract. You'll learn why these provisions exist, what risks they present, and how to mitigate them.

Content Level: Basic

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify and explain the purpose of standard contractual terms and conditions commonly found in sponsored research agreements, including the legal principles that underpin them.
2. Assess potential risks associated with key contract provisions in research agreements and apply strategies to minimize or mitigate those risks during negotiation.

Speaker(s): Michael Marino, Associate Director, Research Administration, Northeastern University; Timothy Gehret, Associate Director of Contracts, Georgia State University

This session will provide an in-depth overview into subrecipients, walk the learner through the lifecycle, discuss the determination process and highlight the importance of risk assessment and monitoring plan. 

Content Level: Basic

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand and explain the subrecipient lifecycle in accordance with UG
2. Understand the importance of the execution of each step

Speaker(s): Sheleza Mohamed, Administrator, Amsterdam Business Services