Advanced Grant Management (AGM)

About AGM

Advanced Grant Managers (AGM) is a certificate program for research administrators with a minimum of three years of experience in grant management and grant management duties greater than 50% of their position. 

AGM certification is required for grant managers in the following Duke Human Resources job classifications:

• Select Grant and Contracts Administrator (2647) tiers
  • Advanced
  • Senior
  • Advanced Team Lead
  • Senior Team Lead
• Grants and Contracts Manager (2648)
• Senior Grants and Contracts Manager (2649)
• Research Administration Manager (2628)
• Associate Director, Research Administration (2629)

The AGM certificate program requires completing mandatory training, including projects, case studies, activities, and other assignments. Failure to complete assignments on time and demonstrate active engagement during classes may result in removal from the certification program. 

Participants must meet all certificate requirements within 12 months of enrolling in the AGM program.

Program Details

Eligibility Requirements

Interested employees must meet the eligibility requirements.

• Full-time employee of Duke University
• Completion of RAA Certification
• A minimum of 3 years of experience in grant management at Duke or other institutions
• Job duties greater than 50% must be directly related to grant management if AGM is not required for the position
• Supervisor approval to participate

Waiving Eligibility Requirements

OERAF requires a supervisor's recommendation to waive any eligibility requirements because the classes consist of advanced content. The recommendation should include why the certification is necessary and how the participant will contribute to the program. Supervisors will also be required to address how the participant’s experience has prepared them for AGM if they do not have three years of experience. OERAF reserves the right to deny entry to anyone who does not meet the minimum eligibility requirements.

Application Process

Complete the AGM application by the deadline for your intended start date. Application deadlines are distributed in the Research Insider and posted in MyRESEARCHpath Updates. 

Applications are accepted during designed registration windows for the Spring and Fall cohorts each year.  OERAF will review the submissions once the application window closes and notify all applicants of status.  Applications submitted outside of these windows will require resubmission.

The application is housed in Kuali Build. OIT has guidance information available on how to use the platform. Applicant submissions route to their supervisor for approval prior to receipt by OERAF.

Participant and Manager Expectations

Expectation of Participants 

• Work with your supervisor to select appropriate courses based on your job duties
• Complete the coursework - post-class assignments, peer evaluations, and capstone activities.  Failure to complete all AGM components will impact the final grade.  
• Attend and participate in all required AGM courses
• Regularly communicate your progress in AGM with your manager and seek their advice on your capston project

Expectations of Supervisors  

• Work with your employee to allow time to attend all classes
• Regularly communicate with your employee on their progress in the AGM program and discus any questions your employee may have
• Use LMS reports to review employee progress
• Communicate with OERAF staff to discuss observations, evaluations, and your employee's progress in the AGM program
• Review your employee's capstone project prior to submission, providing feedback and suggestions as necessary
• Provide professional development support to your employee as needed, including recommending classes for continuing education credits after completing AGM

AGM Policies

Program Standards 

Professionalism 

• Courtesy and respect are expected of all participants, instructors, supervisors, and program administrators.

Communication 

• Respond and communicate in a timely manner. The virtual setting relies heavily on communication. OERAF asks that everyone be mindful of correspondence, whether it be informing us in advance of an absence or technical issues with joining a session.
• Proactive communication prior to a session is key.  OERAF team members will not be able to easily respond to messages sent via chat or email at the beginning of sessions. 

Attendance 

• Attendance is required to progress through the AGM program. You are expected to attend classes for the full scheduled duration. We will work with you in the event of emergencies and other unforeseen reasons for absences. However, if you do not let OERAF know in advance, your business unit may be charged a fee.
• Any exceptions to full attendance must be approved by your manager.  

Engagement 

• This program relies on participants to actively participate and monitor their progress in and out of class sessions. You are expected to engage and manage your participation through registration, attendance, discussion, meeting deadlines, as well as assignments and discussion prompts.
• AGM requires participation in all activities and discussions. Virtual sessions are structured to incorporate as much engagement as possible to replicate the in-person experience. It also fosters community interaction with other AGM participants. Please follow the instructor's guidance on how to participate in each session. Participants are expected to manage their registration, keeping track of their requirements, meeting due dates, and completing coursework on time.

Coursework 

• Course work is a major component of the virtual delivery of the AGM program. It allows us to reduce the in-person Zoom time while ensuring the content from longer, in-person sessions is retained in the new virtual model.
• Completion of all post-class assignments is required prior to submitting your capstone project. 

Honor Policy 

• Your Capstone project is meant to be a representation of your own work. You are able to collaborate with mentors and supervisors on the nature of your response. However, the final product must be a synthesis of your work and ideas.
• Do not share, duplicate, or revise the work of others to represent as your own work.
• Failure to comply with the honor policy may result in the revocation of your certification status. 

Virtual Learning 

• You are expected to use the virtual tools employed in the AGM program.
• Fully authenticate your Duke Zoom account to allow us to track attendance and session engagement.
• Have access to a computer and microphone. Cameras are recommended.
• Register for all classes, complete all post class assignments, complete peer evaluations, and confirm submission of all Capstone project activity in the LMS. Register for courses through Sakai 

*OERAF is aware that some may not have access to a camera due to the nature of working from home. We will work with you if your personal or work-issued computer does not include a web camera.

Courses

AGM participants must attend all of the classes below: 

• Emotional Intelligence
• Effective Listening
• Decision Support
• Planning Strategies
• Thinking like an Auditor
• Problem-Solving in the Gray
• Internal Controls

Coursework

Some classes have required assignments before class or homework after the session. Participants must complete all assignments, assessments, or other activities.

Failure to complete any required coursework may result in an incomplete. Participants may be required to reattend the course, in addition to completing the missing coursework, before receiving credit. 

AGM certification will require the completion of a final Capstone project where participants develop an in-depth research administration case study utilizing the topics and skills learned in the AGM courses.  Participants must attend all classes before submitting their Capstone project.  

Capstone Project Presentations

The Capstone project is the opportunity to synthesize what you have learned in AGM and apply it to a real-world example. Review the Capstone Project page for more information about the project including topics and the scoring rubric. 

Cohort Schedule

Spring Semester 2026 Cohort

Fall Semester 2026 Cohort

FAQs