Sponsored Projects Administration

In support of SMU's research initiatives, Sponsored Projects & Contracts (SP&C) aims to provide our community with client-centered, professional administrative expertise to support the responsible management of sponsored projects through responsive and transparent communication.

Areas of Oversight

Sponsored Projects & Contracts serves to provide institutional oversight regarding all externally-sponsored research grants and contracts. SP&C provides campus-wide services in reviewing and approving research proposals, awards, and contracts; negotiating awards terms and conditions; overseeing financial compliance related to said terms and conditions; and serving as a liaison between SMU and external sponsors.

Research Handbook and Forms Library

Detailed information about all Sponsored Projects & Contracts programs and procedures may be found in the Research Handbook.
All forms required for the external funding proposal process can be found in the Forms Library.

University Policy

Sponsored Projects & Contracts processes are driven primarily by federal regulations and supported by the following SMU policies:

10.1 Sponsored Research and Activities
10.2 Compensation from Sponsored Research Project Funding
10.3 Graduate Research Assistant Employment Requirements and Compensation
10.4 Sponsored Project Procurement
10.5 Government Property Management
10.8 Sponsored Project Subawards and Subrecipient Monitoring
10.11 Sponsored Project Closeout
10.12 Sponsored Project Cost Transfers
10.13 Sponsored Project Advance Expenditure Authorization
10.14 Sponsored Project Cost Sharing
10.15 Sponsored Project Effort Reporting

Research Contracts

Sponsored Projects & Contracts provides contract management and administrative services for SMU faculty and research staff. Our office is responsible for officially accepting grant and contract awards for Sponsored Projects. We negotiate all research contracts directly with agencies and external entities. Principal Investigators (PI) and department staff are advised by our staff in the interpretation of terms and conditions to reduce risk to SMU, the PI, and their research ventures.