The Office of Sponsored Research (OSR) is the office of record for all grants and contracts between external sponsors of academic projects and University faculty and staff. Proposals submitted to these agencies must be reviewed by OSR to assure compliance with University policy and, in some cases, policies of the federal government. OSR also reviews budgets to verify that all appropriate charges are included in the cost calculations.
OSR can help faculty identify funding sources and critique a proposal if requested. It will contact funding agencies or provide the name of an agency contact with whom a faculty member can discuss his or her project.
The management of external projects requires the assistance of many service offices throughout the University, from the Office of Human Resources and the Department of Procurement and Materials Management to the Office of the Comptroller and occasionally, the Office of the Registrar. OSR assists faculty in working with these offices as well as the sponsor throughout the life of a project. This entails renegotiating budgets, setting up a grant account, assisting faculty in hiring personnel, tracking grant expenditures, invoicing sponsors for payment and completing interim or final financial reports.
Faculty interested in submitting proposals may also be interested in the services of the University’s research centers. The Schaefer Center for Public Policy, directed by Ann Cotten, offers particular expertise in survey work and management and policy analysis related to public administration. The center’s staff is also very active in assessing technology requirements in the field of public administration.
The Jacob France Institute, directed by David Stevens, specializes in research on labor economics and regional economic development issues.
The University of Baltimore's Centers and Institutes provide special research opportunities for students and faculty in a wide range of business, law and liberal arts programs.