The Office of Sponsored Programs and Research remains current with federal and state regulations and compliance standards related to externally funded programs and research. To ensure that Governors State University is compliant, OSPR reviews current policy and procedures and determines if new policies or procedures need to be developed or if current policies and procedures need to be revised.
These searchable databases will help you find funding opportunities and useful information to enhance your proposal.
Grant Forward is an online database of federal and private funding programs. Governors State University faculty, staff and students can access Grant Forward by using their govst.edu email address. If you have trouble signing in contact OSPR.
Grants.gov is a centralized website where grant seekers can find and apply for federal funding opportunities. It houses information on more than 1,000 grant programs and vets grant applications for 26 federal grant-making agencies.
The Office of Sponsored Programs and Research provides workshops and training for the Governors State University community to enhance knowledge, increase the number of funded proposals and to meet federal compliance requirements. We also provide tools and resources that assist in grant proposal writing and clarify the grant management process.
Come back and check for workshops listing by the OSPR.
Download the CITI Training documents below:
Find out how to search for Grant Funding in this tutorial video
At Governors State University, all research involving human subjects must be reviewed by the Institutional Review Board (IRB).
Governors State University is committed to addressing harassment and fostering a safe and healthy work environment. Policies and expectations for proper conduct apply to all staff, faculty, and students whether on-campus or working, doing research, or engaging in scholarly activities or studies at off-site locations.
It is the National Science Foundation's (NSF) policy to foster safe and harassment-free environments wherever science is conducted. NSF requires all proposals submitted or due on or after January 30, 2023, involving off-site research or training to have a plan ensuring a safe and inclusive work environment.
The plan must describe how the following types of behavior will be addressed:
To assist investigators in meeting the NSF requirement, OSPR has developed a template for a plan to ensure that PIs promote a safe and inclusive work environment for off-campus/off-site research. Project teams intending to submit a proposal to NSF that includes off-campus/off-site research must prepare the plan using the OSPR template.
Responsible conduct of research (RCR) is defined as "the practice of scientific investigation with integrity." It involves the awareness and application of established professional norms and ethical principles in the performance of all activities related to scientific research.
Effective January 4, 2010, the National Science Foundation (NSF) began requiring that, at the time of proposal submission to NSF, a proposing institution’s Authorized Organizational Representative certify that the institution has a plan to provide appropriate training and oversight in the responsible and ethical conduct of research to undergraduates, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers who will be supported by NSF to conduct research. For more NSF resources on the RCR requirement, please visit the NSF Website.
To address the NSF requirement, all undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty researchers involved in the conduct of research of NSF-funded grants are required to complete RCR training before beginning work on the NSF-funded grant. Individuals must register for and complete the RCR online training provided through the CITI Program. The training is optional for students researching other research-related projects. The Office of Sponsored Programs and Research will verify that any researchers included in NSF projects have completed the training.
CITI Program training is available to all Governors State University faculty, staff, and students. When you register for the program, be sure to affiliate with GovState. Once an account is created, choose “RCR Basic Course” for Question 4. Leave the remaining questions blank and click the Submit button.
At Governors State University, all Principal Investigators must complete training and a disclosure form prior to proposal submission and update regularly to remain in compliance.
The faculty and staff at GovState are pursuing an increasing number of sponsored research activities. The university plans to increase externally sponsored funding through contracts, grants and extramural funding. As sponsored research activities grow in sophistication and complexity, it becomes necessary to comply with federal regulations regarding significant financial conflicts of interest in research and educational activities.
A significant financial conflict of interest (FCOI) means a significant financial interest that could directly and significantly affect the design, conduct or reporting of research or educational activities. Faculty and staff of the university have the obligation to scrupulously maintain the objectivity of their research and educational activities by avoiding any financial conflicts of interest. GSU developed Policy 68 to protect the integrity of externally sponsored research and educational activities and to comply with federal regulations.
The purpose of this policy is to promote objectivity in externally funded research and educational activities by establishing standards that provide a reasonable expectation that the design, conduct and reporting of research and educational activities funded under external grants or cooperative agreements will be free from bias resulting from the investigator (including the investigator's spouse and dependent children) having significant financial conflicts of interest.
At Governors State University, all projects involving animals must be reviewed and approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee.
IACUC is a federally mandated committee, qualified through the experience and expertise of its members, that oversees an institution's animal program, facilities, and procedures. It provides a framework for compliance with federal policies, guidelines, and principles related to the use of animals in research, teaching, and testing. USDA and PHS require institutions using animals to appoint an IACUC and charge it with specific responsibilities.
To ensure compliance with all federal, state, and GovState regulations, policies, and standards in place to protect animal welfare, IACUC members review all requests for approval to use vertebrate animals. It also conducts inspections of all areas where animals are housed and used, reviews the institutional program for animal use and reports its findings.
IACUC Review
IACUC protocols are reviewed by full committee review at a convened committee meeting. Approvals are granted for one year. Protocols are accepted by email at IACUC@govst.edu
Questions about IACUC? Contact IACUC at IACUC@govst.edu
This PDF explains the Policies and Procedures Pertaining to Research Involving the Use of animals.
Research and teaching involving the following hazards are currently prohibited at Governors State University. At this time, the University does not have the necessary facilities, permits, and oversight procedures to ensure adequate protection for workers and the community, as well as regulatory compliance, when using these chemicals or agents and toxins.
Review NIH and HHS regulations for the safety of biological research.
The Office of Sponsored Programs and Research is available to assist and simplify the grant process for you.
Please contact staff directly or send an email to ospr@govst.edu.
Keith E. Brown, MBA
Director of Sponsored Programs and Research
Assistant Director of Research Compliance
Phone: 708.235.7317
Office Location: G372
kbrown31@govst.edu
Kyra Booker, BA
Assistant Director of Sponsored Programs and Research
Phone: 708.534.4971
Office Location: G370
kbooker3@govst.edu
Christy Burkhardt, BS
Financial Research Administrator
Phone: 708.235.7616
Office Location: G373
cburkhardt@govst.edu
Frank Serna, MPA
Sponsored Programs Specialist
Phone: 708.235.6804
Office Location: G375
fserna@govst.edu
