The Enterprise for Research, Innovation and Knowledge (ERIK) is formalizing the Sponsored Programs proposal submission timelines and requirements.
These new requirements include deadlines for researchers to both notify Sponsored Programs of the intent to submit a proposal as well provide key proposal documents for review and approval prior to submission. This change offers a number of benefits to researchers by providing Sponsored Programs and other unit team members time to proactively:
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review, identify and resolve submission problems;
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confirm compliance with all applicable policies and regulations; and
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ensure the proposal is of the highest quality.
Effective Sept. 1, 2025, researchers planning to submit a proposal to an external sponsor must alert Sponsored Programs through our new Proposal Intake Form – or your existing college/unit proposal intake system if available. The intake form is due two weeks prior to the sponsor due date for standard proposals and at least three months before the sponsor due date for complex proposals. Once the form is submitted, researchers will receive deadlines by which to provide proposal components to Sponsored Programs dependent on the complexity of the proposal. Definitions of standard and complex proposals and details of all timelines are outlined in the ERIK Knowledge Base.
During the transition period through the fall, we ask that researchers provide notice of either standard or complex proposals as soon as possible, but no later than two weeks before the sponsor’s due date. For example, researchers planning to apply for funding due on or after Sept. 15 must complete an intake form by Sept. 1.
With very limited case-by-case exceptions, any proposal that does not meet the submission deadlines will not be submitted to the sponsor. Sponsored Programs will defer to college or unit timelines that are longer than ERIK’s and will honor those entities’ decisions to deny submission when unit timelines have not been met. We understand that there may be some exceptions, such as a shortened sponsor timeline, and will work with researchers as those situations arise.
The process follows successful procedures already implemented by several colleges on campus, including CFAES, Engineering and Medicine, and allows our team members to provide clear, fair and uniformly applied levels of service, strengthening our research portfolio across the university.
Review the full proposal submission timeline requirements here.