Training program overview

The tiered STRIVE program offers training for demonstrated competencies and proficiencies in research administration at three distinct levels: Discovery, Strategy and Innovation.

Program Length: Academic Year 

Number of In-Person Sessions: 16 Two-Hour Sessions

The program's three-tiered approach follows participants through the learning process, starting with the basics of research administration and ending with hands-on learning experiences to innovate and improve upon real-life university research administration issues.

1. Discovery

STRIVE - Discovery introduces participants to the basics of research administration, federal regulations, USC’s policies and processes and the full life cycle of an award, from its creation to management. 

2. Managament

STRIVE - Management provides comprehensive training across central, college and departmental research administration operations to help participants build their knowledge and skills aligned with the Certified Research Administrator (CRA) exam. 

Once participants have completed STRIVE - Strategy, they are encouraged to join the CRA Study Hall.

3. Senior

STRIVE - Senior aims to elevate operational efficiency and encourage growth as impactful leaders through a blend of case studies, collaborative exercises, and hands-on activities focused on developing and optimizing standard operating procedures (SOPs), driving process improvement, and honing essential leadership skills related to research administration. 

Eligibility Requirements

To be considered for STRIVE, participants must:

• Be employed at USC Columbia, the USC schools of medicine in Columbia or Greenville, a four-year UofSC comprehensive institution or a USC Palmetto College campus.
• Be a full-time staff employee in a research administration and/or grant management role.

Participant Expectations

STRIVE participants are expected to:

• Attend 16 two-hour in-person program sessions.
• Commit to attend all scheduled sessions.
• Demonstrate proficiency across STRIVE competencies during their time in the program.

Post-Program Opportunities

By completing the program, STRIVE participants will :

• Gain skills covered in the Certified Research Administrator exam.
• Earn a certificate of completion of the STRIVE Leadership Program in USC's talent management system.
• Receive a warm welcome into the campus-wide STRIVE network, which is a community sharing the specialized expertise and skill sets of research administrators at USC.