| Sponsored funding is one of the largest revenue sources for public and private universities. This study addressed the problem of inadequate support to sponsored programs administrators (SPAs, or research administrators) at baccalaureate universities from their chief executives. Support to SPAs strengthens the shared purpose of the university, enabling SPAs to serve as effective organizational representatives in business transactions pertaining to grants and sponsored programs. This descriptive, quantitative study grounded in organizational culture theory compared the level of support for sponsored programs and the level of support to sponsored programs administration. A researcher-developed survey instrument, the Sponsored Programs Administrators Survey (SPAsS), was used to gather information from research administrators who were members of the National Council of University Research Administrators and were affiliated with baccalaureate universities in the United States. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the Pearson correlation were used to analyze the data. Based on the study findings, nonfinancial support from chief executives of baccalaureate universities is not related to the control of the institution, size of student enrollment, or level of sponsored revenue. The study also found that chief executives who supported sponsored programs were more likely to demonstrate behaviors supportive of SPAs. The research contributes to a deeper understanding by SPAs and institutional leadership of issues and concerns that weaken collaborative approaches. The implications for social change include enabling the leadership of baccalaureate universities and SPAs to enhance university finances by collaboratively seeking more external funds thereby releasing funds to accomplish other objectives such as those related to student retention. |
