Leading and encouraging efforts to secure external support via grants and other funding instruments constitutes the sponsored programs component. The Office is headed by an Executive Director, who reports to the Associate Provost. Access to the Internet and World Wide Web via a publicly available workstation. Proposal Preparation Assistance is available as external proposals are developed, particularly to ensure that the narrative is in keeping with sponsor guidelines and faithful to the intent of the program, foundation priorities, or agency mission. Staff can assist in identification of partners and coordination of cross-disciplinary teams when such activity is desirable.
Resources located at the office can help put together an idea into a more formalized proposal.
All proposals being submitted to an external sponsor must first have internal clearance, which is achieved through the Clearance Sheet. Cost-sharing, assigned time and space, and other BSU contributions are thereby acknowledged and approved. Sufficient time should be allowed for the clearance process. A research protocol must be submitted to the appropriate compliance committee before the initiation of a project. The Institutional Review Board reviews the use of human subjects in research, and IRB approval ensures compliance with federal regulations.