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Office of Research and Innovation
Research Education

LevelUP

NC State employees have free access to the Society of Research Administrators International’s (SRAi) LevelUP Micro-Credentialing Program. Developed by national experts, SRAi’s LevelUP curriculum is based on eight competencies of research administration designed to build foundations, increase knowledge, and add expertise in an engaging online format. These self-paced courses can be used to obtain CEUs, beneficial for CRA recertification.

How do I enroll?

If you would like to request access to the LevelUP program, please fill out this form:

Why use LevelUP?

In the video below, Gerardo Granillo of NC State’s College of Engineering explains some of the many benefits of using LevelUP.

Gerardo Granillo, Certified Research Administrator, shares his experience with using LevelUP.

LevelUP’s self-paced modules allow for flexible learning. You can use LevelUP to:

  • Grow your research admin skills
  • Build valuable knowledge for new research admin employees
  • Strengthen your expertise in new areas
  • Study for the CRA exam
  • Receive CEU credit hours for each module completed

LevelUP Modules

CEU: 4.5 hours

Topics Covered:

  • Describe the roles of key personnel and the organizational structures used in research administration.
  • Distinguish funding mechanisms.
  • Recognize the research administrator’s role in creating a strong proposal.
  • Summarize the role of the research administrator in financial and regulatory compliance issues.
  • Identify the purpose of eRA software.
  • Apply regulations and sponsor guidelines to aspects of budget development.
  • Describe key roles and responsibilities during the final review and submission phase.

CEU: 4.5 hours

Topics Covered:

  • Describe the general format, differences between, and the unique elements of each proposal type.
  • Advise a principal investigator (PI) on sponsor trends, requirements, and opportunities; grantsmanship style and resources; and project management parameters. 
  • Apply the review process to any proposal.

CEU: 3.75 hours

Topics Covered:

  • Create tools to identify and address critical gaps in the capabilities of institutions and individual applicants.
  • Assess which RDP activities are most appropriate for your institution’s needs and priorities.
  • Search, discover, and disseminate solicitations that align with investigator’s and team’s strengths.
  • Contribute to the development of a limited submissions selection process that benefits your institution.

CEU: 4.5 hours

Topics Covered:

  • Conduct a grant or contract review noting areas of potential issues.
  • Differentiate common legal agreements in terms of confidentiality agreements, budgeting, and key contract elements.
  • Define the purpose of common contract clauses including indemnification, publication rights, and intellectual property.
  • Recognize the key research offices and key personnel involved in award negotiation and set-up.
  • Describe how some clauses can adversely impact the institution or work performance.
  • Explain policies and procedures related to administering agreements.

CEU: 4.25

Topics Covered:

  • Apply appropriate skills to the roles and responsibilities of post-award non-financial research administration.
  • Interpret a Notice of Award (NoA) through the lens of a post-award administrator focusing on non-financial research administration.
  • Administer the main elements of post-award non-financial award management.
  • Carry out the primary duties of post-award non-financial reporting and award closeout.

CEU: 4.5 hours

Topics Covered:

  • Receiving and establishing an award
  • Award management
    • Expenditure review and monitoring
    • Subrecipient Monitoring
    • Sponsor invoicing and LOC draws
  • Financial Reporting
    • Regular federal reports (Quarterly Cash Transaction Reports, Annual Expenditure Data Reports)
    • Reporting of income generated by award activities
    • Final financial reporting and award closeout
  • Introduction to external audits

CEU: 3.0 hours

Topics Covered:

  • Describe the goals and the research administrator’s role in the research enterprise.
  • Explain how the federal government supports sponsored research projects through its agencies.
  • Differentiate the type of sponsors and the funding instruments used.
  • Recognize the types of recipient organizations who receive sponsored research projects.
  • Identify the roles and responsibilities of key players in the research enterprise.

CEU: 3.5 hours

Topics Covered:

  • Introduce learners to the compliance areas that are most commonly embedded in grants management.
  • Gain a deeper understanding of the key principles of research compliance in grants management and grants congruency.
  • Emphasize the importance of these compliance areas for protecting participants, organizations, and the larger community.
  • Explore how adherence to these compliance touchpoints help contribute to an institutional culture of research integrity and sound financial stewardship.
  • Develop a foundation in institutional policies and procedures regarding research compliance and foster effective communication to institutional stakeholders.

CEU: 3.5 hours

Topics Covered:

  • Introduce learners to the compliance areas that are most commonly embedded in grants management.
  • Gain a deeper understanding of the key principles of research compliance in grants management and grants congruency.
  • Emphasize the importance of these compliance areas for protecting participants, organizations, and the larger community.
  • Explore how adherence to these compliance touchpoints help contribute to an institutional culture of research integrity and sound financial stewardship.
  • Develop a foundation in institutional policies and procedures regarding research compliance and foster effective communication to institutional stakeholders.

LevelUP mGuides

mGuides are condensed training modules with practical information to master a specific topic.  These guides can be completed in an hour or less and include links to complementary material. More mGuides will be added as they are made available.

CEU: 1.0 hour

Topics Covered:

  • Interpret requirements of a National Science Foundation (NSF) Program Description.
  • Employ project management skills in developing a Full Research Proposal.
  • Complete an NSF Collaborative Full Research Proposal using Research.gov.
  • Explain how internal policies and procedures affect the development of a Full Research Proposal.
  • Recognize common errors that may contribute to a Full Research Proposal being returned.
  • Apply NSF proposal development skills to other NSF Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOA).

CEU: 1.0 hour

Topics Covered:

  • Interpret requirements of a NSF CAREER Program Solicitation.
  • Employ project management skills in proposal development.
  • Prepare an NSF CAREER proposal.
  • Submit a CAREER proposal to NSF via Research.gov.
  • Recognize common errors that may contribute to a proposal returned without review.

CEU: 1.0 hour

Topics Covered:

  • Utilize the NIH resources for completing an annual RPPR.
  • Develop project management strategies for managing, developing, and submitting an annual RPPR.
  • Recognize the requirements and components of an annual RPPR.
  • Select appropriate data points in an annual RPPR.
  • Understand the sponsor’s perspective when receiving and reviewing RPPRs.
  • Apply key tips and tricks in an annual RPPR’s development and submissions.

CEU: 1.0 hour

Topics Covered:

  • Interpret a National Institutes of Health (NIH) Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA).
  • Manage the development of a proposal for a National Institutes of Health (NIH) R Series Grant.
  • Prepare an NIH proposal budget.
  • Complete and submit an error-free NIH R Series application.