Abstract
The professional field of research administration faces critical challenges in maintaining and cultivating a talented group of skilled administrators in the new millennium. Universities have created increasingly complex bureaucracies to manage the dramatic rise in research funding and the complicated legal and regulatory requirements associated with receiving funding for research (Hanson & Moreland, 2004). As a result, the number of people employed in the field of research administration has increased. The value of certification in the field of research administration is not known. This study sought to determine whether those who have attained the Certificate in Research Administration (CRA) perceive a benefit to their careers and why most research administrators do not attempt certification. The primary research question studied is concerned with the relationship between perceived value of the CRA to research administration professionals and demographic characteristics. No research is available concerning the value of research administrators becoming certified through the Research Administrators Certification Council (RACC). This study will help to determine to what degree research administration professionals value certification, and will help in determining the perceived value of certification to different groups of research administrators. An analysis of the data will be provided and implications for future practice will discussed.