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Chapter 2 : Institutional Organization - Research Support Offices and Staff

Overview. The Office of Academic Research (OAR) at CSUSB provides leadership and strategic support for faculty and student research, scholarship, and creative activities across the university. Under the direction of Associate Provost Timothy Akers, OAR oversees five key offices that collectively manage the research lifecycle—from proposal development and funding to compliance, project management, and student engagement. These include the pre-award Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP), the post-award Office of Sponsored Programs Administration (SPA), the Office of Research Development (ORD), the Office of Student Research and Innovation (OSRI), and The Office of Research Compliance.

The Office of Academic Research (OAR) 

The OAR has a mission to “provide strategic guidance and assistance to support faculty and student research, scholarship, and creative activities in meeting the educational and service mission of the university.” OAR is a central office under the leadership of Timothy Akers, Associate Provost for Research.

Staff Contacts and Contact Information for OAR

research@csusb.edu, (909) 537-4479, Location: AD - 101

OAR oversees five offices related to research: The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP); The Office of Sponsored Programs Administration (SPA); The Office of Research Development (ORD); Research Compliance (RC); and The Office of Student Research (OSR).  A brief description of the functions of each of these are as follows.

Organization of Offices Within the Office of Academic Research

 

Pre-Award: The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP)

Overview. The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP) – often called “Pre-Award” – supports faculty and staff in securing external funding for research, scholarly, and creative activities.  At CSUSB, “The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP) was established to advance and strengthen the research, instructional, creative, and community service goals of the university through extramural (sponsored) funding.” This office assists with identifying funding opportunities and ensuring compliance with institutional and sponsor guidelines. ORSP staff collaborate with principal investigators to prepare budgets, complete required forms, solicit the required approvals, and execute the grant/contract submission processes. Their role is crucial in facilitating the administrative side of proposal applications before a project is funded.

Staff Contacts and Contact Information for ORSP

Spon_Pgm_Fdn@csusb.edu, 909-537-5929, Location: AR - 111

Post-Award: The Office of Sponsored Program Administration (SPA)

Overview. The Office of Sponsored Program Administration (SPA) – often called “Post-Award” – manages grants and contracts after funding has been awarded.

SPA has a mission that “supports and advances the University's mission by providing the highest standards of integrity, expertise, and compliance in research administration”. This office ensures that sponsored projects comply with university policies, sponsor regulations, and financial requirements. SPA supports principal investigators with budgeting, expenditure tracking, reporting, and financial oversight throughout the project’s duration. It also assists with modifications, extensions, and closeout procedures to ensure proper project completion. Overall, the Post-Award office plays a key role in the effective administration and accountability of funded research and programs.

Staff Contacts and Contact Information for ORSP

Spon_Pgm_Fdn@csusb.edu, 909-537-5929, Location: AR - 111

The Office of Research Development (ORD)

Overview. The Office of Research Development (ORD) supports faculty and researchers in identifying funding opportunities and proposal development through grant writing workshops and proposal editing services, as well as coordination with other research support units to align resources.

The mission of ORD is to “provide strategic and catalytic support to enhance CSUSB’s capacity and competitiveness in research and sponsored programs.” In addition ORD manages several internal-to-CSUSB grant competitions. Its ultimate goal is to enhance the institution’s research capacity and strengthen the research culture.

Staff Contacts and Contact Information for ORD

ResearchDevelopment@csusb.edu, 909-537-4479

The Office of Student Research and Innovation (OSRI)

Overview. The Office of Student Research and Innovation (OSRI) has a mission “to facilitate the research and creative activities of CSUSB graduate and undergraduate students by providing programs, activities, and funding opportunities.” OSR offers resources such as funding for research and travel, workshops, mentorship programs, and conferences to enhance students' academic experiences. By promoting inquiry, discovery, creativity, and innovation OSR contributes to CSUSB's goal of fostering an enriching research environment that improves graduation rates and prepares students for professional success.

Staff Contacts and Contact Information for OSRI

osr@csusb.edu, 909-537-3728, Location: CE-357

 

The Office of Research Compliance

Overview. The Research Compliance Officer at CSUSB administers, coordinates, and assists the campus community in implementation and adherence to a broad range of university, state, and federal policies and regulations related to the conduct of sponsored research. The Research Compliance office ensures that all research conducted at the institution adheres to ethical, legal, and regulatory standards. It oversees areas such as human subjects protection, animal care and use, conflict of interest, and responsible conduct of research. This office provides guidance, training, and oversight to researchers to maintain integrity, as well as safeguard participants and the research environment. It also manages institutional review boards (IRBs) and other compliance committees. By promoting ethical practices, the Research Compliance office helps foster a culture of accountability and trust in research activities.

Staff Contacts and Contact Information for the Office of Research Compliance

External Offices and Contacts

College Grant Coordinator

Accounting Services (Auxiliary or General)

  • Sierra Hall (SH 134), 909-537-5153

Accounts Payable

University Enterprises Corporation

  • Corporate - Office: (909) 537-5918; Fax: (909) 537-7036
  • Human Resources - Phone: 909-537-7589, Fax: 909-537-7712, uec-hr@csusb.edu

Payroll - Phone: 909-537-7225, Fax: 909-537-7036, uec-payroll@csusb.edu