George Mason leadership recognized the need to change the delivery model for research administration to manage research growth, make the best use of the new technology being brought forward from the RAMP project, and provide PIs with the level of support consistent with other R1 universities. Beginning in late 2020, there was a review of the entire research administration operating model to better understand how effective it was and provide suggestions for improvements. The goal of the Research Administration project was threefold:
- Provide professional research administration evenly across George Mason;
- Rethink research administration as a professional career and not an add on to other administrative functions; and
- Localize the research administration function to allow OSP to perform duties more focused on University compliance.
After a pilot phase, the new operating model went into effect across the University as of 12/31/22. Most colleges and schools are staffed with pre-award and post-award research administrative support. For central units and academic units without pre-award resources, a newly established Central Research Administration Pre-Award Team was formed.