Research Sponsored Programs - Home

Sponsored Programs


As of March 1, 2011, the Office of Sponsored Programs is now the Office of Grants, Contracts and Industrial Agreements (OGCIA) and the Office of Post Award Administration (OPAA) as part of a strategic restructuring intended to increase efficiency and productivity. You can read more about our restructuring here: http://utsa.edu/today/2011/03/resrestructure.html

Please be patient while we roll out our updated online resources.


Meet Our Director

James J. Casey, Jr., J.D.
Executive Director
Phone: (210) 458-4340
Fax: (210) 458-5196
Email: James.Casey@utsa.edu


James Casey is Executive Director of the Office of Grants, Contracts, and Industrial Agreements (OGCIA) at The University of Texas at San Antonio. James has over 17 years experience in research and grants administration, is a Wisconsin-licensed attorney, and holds master's degrees in international affairs and public administration. In his current role, he provides leadership for the full range of grants, contracts, industrial and international agreements.

His higher education background includes positions at research and non-research universities, including Northwestern University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Beyond grants and research administration, James' background include the practice of law in Wisconsin, working for the cities of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Huber Heights, Ohio, and publishing/lecturing on southeastern Wisconsin transportation planning and history.

James has been involved in a variety of roles at the Government-University-Industry Research Roundtable (GUIRR, part of the National Academies) and the National Council of University Research Administrators (NCURA). He has been an active participant in GUIRR for a number of years, including co-Editor and contributor to the 2004 Living Studies publication and co-Chair of the ongoing International Research Collaborations project. He was instrumental in the development of the February 2011 GUIRR meeting entitled Cyber Security in the Coming Decade: Using Security to Support the Value of Intellectual Property.

A member of NCURA since 1995, James is currently Senior Editor of the NCURA Magazine and a member of the Professional Development Committee. A recipient of the 2009 NCURA Distinguished Service Award, he previously served on the National Board of Directors, as Editor of the Research Management Review, and several terms on the Professional Development Committee. He is a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and the European Association of Research Managers and Administrators (EARMA).

He is recognized for his international expertise. He has lectured on research administration in Australia, China, Denmark, Ireland, Jordan, Kuwait, Portugal, and Slovenia. In 2007-08 he was a Visiting Professor of Leadership at the Upper Iowa University campus in Hong Kong, China.

A member of the Wisconsin Bar since 1990, James was appointed to the Communications Committee by Wisconsin State Bar President James C. Boll in July, 2010. The Communications Committee, among its duties, serves as the editorial board for the Wisconsin Lawyer magazine. He is also a member of the American Bar Association.

Useful Links

What's New


New Facilities and Administrative (F&A) Cost Rate Agreement

Click here to access the full agreement.

Guidance on "Institutional Commitment/Support" in Grant Proposals

The Office of Grants, Contracts, and Industrial Agreements (OGCIA) has developed guidance to the campus research community regarding institutional commitment/support on grant proposals. This guidance is provided to faculty and staff as they develop such proposals, in the hope that this will speed and simplify proposal development. This guidance also provides introductory thoughts, differentiation between institutional commitment/support and cost sharing, sample language, and a sample letter as examples for future use. Click here to read and download OGCIA's guidance.

NIH Posts Grant Writing Podcasts

The National Institutes of Health recently posted new "all about grants" podcasts, which address "navigating through" a funding opportunity to be sure no details are missed and essential elements of writing a cover letter to go with the grant application. The podcasts are described as "conversations with NIH staff members...designed for investigators, fellows, students, research administrators, and others" and provided by the Office of Extramural Research. In the podcasts, updated every other week, staff "provide insights on grant topics from those who live and breathe the information."

Link: http://grants.nih.gov/podcasts/All_About_Grants/index.htm

NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) (NSF 11-1)

Effective Date: January 18, 2011

As you may be aware, the new NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) (NSF 11-1) goes into effect for proposals submitted, or due, on or after January 18, 2011. One of the significant changes to the PAPPG is implementation of the National Science Board's recommendations regarding cost sharing.

This Fall, the Policy Office developed a set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on cost sharing (http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=costsharefaqs) and has since added responses to additional questions that have been raised about the new policy. The document discusses, among other things, when the new policy takes effect, donation of time to a project by senior personnel and how to handle doctoral dissertation awards and fellowships. We encourage you to access the cost sharing FAQs and visit the Policy Office website often to obtain the latest information on NSF policies and procedures.

  • San Antonio Area Foundation (SAAF) 2011 Community Grant Application is Available Now at SAAF website

    • The Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) internal deadline for submitting the 2011 Community Grant Application is 5:00 pm, Tuesday, January 4, 2011. The categories for this year are:
    • Animal Services
      Programs that enhance the quality of life for all animals, educate the community regarding responsible pet care and/or enhance spay/neuter and adoption services.
    • Arts and Culture
      Programs that develop audiences strengthen locally influenced arts and artists and/or use an innovative approach.
    • Community and Human Services (includes Children and Youth, Community-at-Large/Seniors)
      Programs and services that improve safety and welfare for vulnerable and underserved populations.
    • Medicine and Healthcare (includes Visual Services)
      Programs that enhance the quality and availability of healthcare services to residents of the community.
    Without exception, all applications must be complete and submitted electronically by OSP.
    If you are not already a registered user at SAAF, create your username and password now. User activation time is normally two (2) business days. Therefore, all applicants are encouraged to register as soon as possible even if they are not ready to begin the application process. If you registered for any previous application, you are still an active user. If you don't remember your user ID or password, use the Forgotten Password feature on the "Sign In" page. Please refer to the "2011 SAAF Community General Information" for more information regarding the application. If you have any questions, please contact Angelika Rocha at 458-4113 or by email at angelika.rocha@utsa.edu.

    Since OSP will be closed from December 24, 2010 and reopen January 3, 2011; we recommend that all SAAF applications be completed by December 20, 2010.

    All interested applicants should contact Angelika Rocha at 458-4113 or by email at angelika.rocha@utsa.edu or OSP at utsaosp@utsa.edu.

  • NIH Announces Changes to Submitting Applications in 2010

    • If you are planning to submit an NIH application soon, please follow these 3 steps:
    1. Return to the updated Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) or reissued parent announcement and read the new language.
    2. Read the new application instructions carefully
    3. Be sure to choose the correct forms based on the application due date:

      4.  Until January 25, 2010On and after January 25, 2010
      Electronic SF 424 (R&R) ADOBE-FORMS-A ADOBE-FORMS-B
      Paper PHS 398 Revision date "11/2007" Revision date "06/2009"
    Note also that reissued Parent FOAs with new Enhancing Peer Review language with links to the new, restructured application forms are being posted according to this schedule.

    For those of you submitting an unsolicited R01 application, the parent R01 announcement (PA-10-067) was issued on December 17, 2009. Read the Guide Notice for more information

    Enhancing Peer Review Website has received several updates and new resources to help applicants with the transition:

  • Multidisciplinary Proposal Development Team Created

    • To assist UTSA faculty and expand the number and scope of large, multidisciplinary research proposals the Vice President of Research has created a Multidisciplinary Proposal Development team.

    The multidisciplinary proposal development team works in partnership with faculty to provide support for the early stages of program and proposal development of multi and interdisciplinary team science projects. This unit focuses on strategic, catalytic, and capacity building research development activities. The Office for Sponsored Programs (OSP) is responsible for overall research administration for the entire University. OSP is involved in the general process of proposal submission, negotiating agreements, accepting and appropriating awards, interpreting guidelines and promoting compliance with sponsor and University policies. The Multidisciplinary team and OSP work together to best serve the faculty when they are developing these large complex proposals.

    Multidisciplinary Proposal Development Home Page