2026 Symposium for Research Administrators

Symposium Registration

How to Register

1. Click on a registration link for one of the four Symposium Blocks (AM - General Session, AM Concurrent Session, PM Concurrent Session, PM General Session) listed below
2. Enter your First Name, Last Name, Email address (using your netid@duke.edu address format), your Duke Unique ID, and Duke Net ID. You can look up your ID information using the Duke Directory.NOTE: Failure to enter the correct ID information may jeopardize your Continuing Education credits.
3. Click "Register"
4. Open the .ics file attached or click the "Add to: Outlook Calendar" in the automated confirmation email sent by Zoom to add the session(s) to your calendar. NOTE: This step is CRITICAL to ensure you have the correct Zoom link available to you when the session begins.  

Reminders

• Registration is for authenticated users with a Duke-issued Zoom account only.
• Use your Zoom Account User name (your netid@duke.edu email) when asked for your email address.
• Attendance is tracked by Duke Unique ID and Net ID. Failure to provide the correct identification information will jeopardize your continuing education.
• You can find your Duke Unique ID and Net ID using the Duke Directory.
• Concurrent Sessions are capped at 200 participants. Please register for a different session if one is full.  OERAF will partner with concurrent session speakers to offer an additional offering later in the spring if sessions are full. Sessions will be marked as full once they reach capacity.
• Automated Zoom emails will provide you a personalized Webinar or Meeting link and an .isc file (Outlook event file) to add to your calendar.  It is critical to add these links to your calendar to ensure you are able to enter the sessions without interruption on the day of the event.  Failure to do so may result in you not being able to attend a session.
• Links issued to join both Webinar and Concurrent sessions are personalized for your use only. Using shared links may invalidate your ability to join the session.
• OERAF will issue credit in .5 hour blocks using standard rounding. No credit is given to individuals who call into a session.   

Symposium Sessions

Registration for the Symposium is organized in 4 blocks. Each session requires you to register for the offering for that portion of the day. You will have a maximum of 4 personalized Zoom URLs issued to you.

1. MORNING GENERAL SESSION - Zoom Webinar, all attendees in a single session, used twice during the AM.
2. MORNING CONCURRENT SESSIONS - Zoom Meeting, choose ONE from a selection of smaller morning offerings.
3. AFTERNOON CONCURRENT SESSIONS - Zoom Meeting, choose ONE from a selection of smaller afternoon offerings.
4. AFTERNOON GENERAL SESSION - Zoom Webinar, all attendees in a single session.

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Event Agenda

Wednesday, March 18| Delivery Platform: Zoom

Session recordings and presentation decks for most sessions will be available for Duke Users only upon the event's completion. 

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Concurrent Sessions

• Participants should register for ONE concurrent session for each block (AM & PM)
• The Zoom Link to this session will be separate from the General Sessions when all participants are together in a Webinar.
• Make sure to put the Zoom link on your calendar, it will be challenging to get your Zoom link the day of the event if it is misplaced.
• Session Materials will become available closer to the event date or after the event.
• If sessions reach capacity, OERAF will work with facilitators to offer another session at a later date.  

AM & PM Sessions

1A & 1B: Pre-Award Made Practical: Strategies for Managing Complexity with Confidence

REGISTRATION FOR SESSION 1A  |REGISTRATION FOR SESSION 1B

MATERIALS 

A unit grant manager leads session with input/collaboration from central office units that walks through proposal development phases, strategies they’ve found helpful, and then also a focus on budget development and management, utilizing the SPS tools. 

• Identify effective proposal development strategies and best practices used by grant managers.
• Discuss strategies to improve efficiency, compliance and collaboration in pre-award.
• Apply institutional guidelines and timelines to the planning and coordination of proposal development activities.
• Use SPS tools to create, manage and track proposal budgets
• Recognize common budget development and management challenges and apply strategies to mitigate errors and delays

FACILITATORS

• Colleagues from the Campus Grants Management Team (CGMT), Research Administration Support Resources (RASR), Office of Research Support (ORA), and Office of Research Administration (ORA) 

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2A & 2B: Mastering Financial Oversight Amid Complexity

REGISTRATION FOR SESSION 2A |REGISTRATION FOR SESSION 2B 

MATERIALS 

 A unit GM leads the session with input/collaboration from central offices that discusses a deep dive into specific accounting and financial reporting, how those are utilized and focuses on specific examples and scenarios. Also discusses accounting and financial oversight of the project and what they use to manage. Lastly, discusses incorporating it into progress reports, effort and financial reporting.

• Interpret and apply post-award accounting and financial reporting requirements with reference to real-world examples and scenarios.
• Monitor and manage financial activity on sponsored projects, including expenditures, balances, and compliance with sponsor and institutional policies.
• Implement effective financial oversight practices to identify, prevent, and resolve common post-award issues
• Integrate financial, effort, and accounting data into progress reports and required sponsor reporting that ensures accuracy and compliance.

FACILITATORS

• Colleagues from the Campus Award Management Team (CAMT), Office of Research Administration (ORA), Office of Post Award Administration (OPAA), Campus Grants Management Team (CGMT), and Research Administration Support Resources (RASR)

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ONLY OFFERED IN AM Session 

3A: From Overwhelmed to Organized: Strategic Communication, Planning, and Workload Management in Research Administration

REGISTRATION | MATERIALS 

Participants will explore business writing and communication techniques, learn proactive planning to anticipate challenges, and discover ways to monitor and support staff workload. The session also covers strategies for managing high-pressure situations—prioritization, delegation, and timely interventions—helping participants move from overwhelmed to efficient and strategic.

• Demonstrate effective business writing and communication strategies that strengthen relationships with colleagues
• Apply proactive planning and communication techniques to anticipate challenges, clarify expectations, and keep projects on track.
• Oversee team workload effectively, including monitoring progress, checking in with staff, and supporting them in meeting deadlines.
• Develop strategies to manage overwhelming workloads, including prioritization, delegation, and timely interventions when deadlines are at risk.

FACILITATORS

• Colleagues from the Campus Grants Management Team (CGMT) and Research Administration Support Resources (RASR)

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Only offered in PM Sessions

3B: Checks, Balances, and Breakdowns: Navigating Internal Controls in Research Administration

REGISTRATION | MATERIALS 

A strong internal control framework is essential for ensuring integrity, compliance, and operational efficiency within research organizations. This session provides an overview of internal controls—what they are, why they matter, how they function across the research lifecycle and how the evolving regulatory landscape influences internal control expectations. 

• Identify common internal controls in the research lifecycle
• Describe key roles and responsibilities
• Recognize internal control failures

PRESENTERS

• Sandra Soto - Shared Services Audit Manager supporting Sponsored Programs Assurance and Research Compliance (SPARC)

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Continuing Education

We are excited that you’ve chosen to attend the 2026 Virtual Symposium for Research Administrators. Continuing education will be available for this year’s symposium. Read on to learn more.

• CREDIT IS NOT RELATED TO SURVEY COMPLETION
• Zoom will monitor and record your attendance in all sessions and will assign credit based on the length of time that you were engaged.
• Participants must be logged in via a computer or app on a mobile device to earn credit for their attendance in the session. Dialing in via phone where visual images are unavailable will not qualify for continuing education credit. Using a phone for audio paired with a computer or mobile device is accepted.
• Continuing education credit will be issued in increments of 0.5 hours up to 6.0 hours for the entire day. If you can only join us for part of the event, OERAF will capture the amount of time you attend. Prior notification is not needed.
• CE will be reflected in the Duke Learning Management System within 5 weeks after the symposium. OERAF will email the community once credits are available for review.
• Session recordings will be available for viewing after the event; however, continuing education credit will not be available for watching recordings after the event.

Symposium credits can be counted toward maintaining your existing RAA, AGM, RAI, FCC, and RCC certifications for the FY26 certification year. They do not count towards the RAI-LS requirement. Visit our Continuing Education page for more details on meeting CE requirements.

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Helpful Zoom Guidance

► ZOOM GUIDE FOR SYMPOSIUM ATTENDEES

Zoom Articles and Resources

• Participant guide to Zoom Meetings
  • How to join a meeting
  • How to connect to audio
  • How to view captions
  • How to use Q&A
• Attendees guide to Zoom Webinars (select Attendees tab)
  • How to join a webinar
  • How to connect to audio
  • How to ask the host and panelists questions (Q&A)
  • How to use emoji Reactions

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Frequently Asked Questions