Research Administration Community Forum (RACF)

Whether you’re in a central office or a departmental role, the work of research administration connects us. Hosted by the Office of Research, the Research Administration Community Forum (RACF) is a collaborative learning space that brings together partners from across the UC Davis research enterprise for structured, learning-focused sessions covering policy updates, system guidance, sponsor news, and best practices. Participation is open to all staff who support research administration functions across UC Davis.

Forum Goals

The RACF is designed to promote shared understanding, continuous learning, and strong partnerships across central and departmental teams. Specifically, the Forum aims to:

  • Build community among colleagues who support research and researchers
  • Build shared understanding of policies, processes, and systems
  • Share institutional updates and upcoming changes
  • Identify recurring themes and opportunities for improvement
  • Support professional development and a culture of learning

What to Expect

Each session features timely updates from a variety of UC Davis central offices that support research administration, including:

  • Animal Care (TRACS and CVS)
  • Contracts and Grants Accounting
  • IACUC Administration
  • IRB Administration
  • Proposal Development Services
  • Research and Industry Sponsored Agreements (MTAs, DTAs, CDAs, and Industry Sponsored Agreements)
  • Research Compliance Office (ReCO: Conflict of Interest, Export Controls, RCR, SCRO, and HASTOC)
  • Research Integrity and Security (Conflict of Commitment/Outside Activities Consulting for Category 1, Research Misconduct, Research Integrity, and Research/Data Security)
  • Sponsored Programs Office
  • Strategic Initiatives and Research Funding
  • Technology Transfer Office

Sessions may also include a focused learning topic (policy deep dives, system walkthroughs, and sponsor updates), time for process-focused questions, and a short community-building activity.

Meeting Schedule

The RACF convenes monthly on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 10:00 a.m. — Join via Zoom. Agendas will be shared in advance.

Past Sessions

Recordings, slides, and other materials from past RACF sessions are available here.

Office Hours for Project-Specific Questions

The RACF is focused on shared learning and community building rather than individual transactions. For grant- or project-specific questions, SPO and CGA will continue to host Office Hours:

  • SPO Office Hours: Second Tuesdays, 10:00–10:45 a.m. — Join via Zoom. You are also encouraged to reach out directly to the Research Administrator assigned to your IPF, project, or subaward. If one has not yet been assigned, please contact the appropriate general inbox: [email protected], [email protected], or [email protected].
  • CGA Office Hours: Every Wednesday, 10:00–10:45 a.m. — see the Aggie Enterprise Office Hours page for the Zoom link. You are also encouraged to reach out to your contract administrator directly or submit a ticket through the ticketing system for action items.

Suggest a Topic

Do you have a topic you would like to see covered? Share it here.