User Acceptance Testing Begins for Baylor’s Electronic Research Administration System

May 1, 2023

In less than two months, Baylor’s research enterprise will take a significant step forward with the implementation of a new electronic research administration system. Compliance and Research Administration—or CARA, in shorthand—will enhance Baylor’s capacity to support the University’s dramatic research growth. Phased testing is now underway for the new system, with greater numbers of faculty researchers engaged as the summer progresses.

“This is an exciting step forward for Baylor University. The implementation of CARA will significantly enhance our ability to support Baylor’s growing research enterprise,” Kevin Chambliss, Ph.D., Vice Provost for Research, said. “Faculty throughout the University are doing fantastic research, and I appreciate everyone’s willingness to integrate their research tasks into CARA. The OVPR team has worked extremely hard preparing for this next step, and we look forward to facilitating a smooth transition.”

To learn more, visit Baylor’s CARA webpage or an FAQ section on the process and its impact for faculty.

Throughout the last year, faculty and research staff across campus have engaged with Baylor’s Office of the Vice Provost for Research (OVPR) in the adoption and implementation of CARA. Their collective input has helped shape this needed resource into a comprehensive system that will meet the University’s needs, enabling faculty to engage in each step of the proposal and award process within CARA.

“Current research admin processes limit efficiency with redundant data entry in multiple systems with no connectivity or workflow. CARA will provide our research faculty with real-time access to status and other information about their portfolios, while allowing research administrators to better manage the entire grant lifecycle from proposal to award in a single system,” Pete Able, Research IT Manager in OVPR, said.

CARA will go live on June 26, but campus training will be ongoing throughout the summer and beyond. In the weeks ahead, engagement opportunities for faculty will increase in three distinct phases, with user acceptance testing now underway.

  • User Acceptance Testing (through May 12)
  • Pilot Group Training (commencing June 5)
  • Training for remainder of faculty researchers and research staff (commencing in August and continuing through the Fall semester as needed)

Faculty who have not yet been a part of user acceptance testing or pilot group communication can anticipate training information later in the summer. Baylor OVPR is focused on implementation and training that meets the real-time needs of faculty who need to engage with the system. Faculty will receive further information through Baylor PI News e-newsletters, direct communication from OVPR and other Baylor news resources. Additionally, a new email, carasupport@baylor.edu, has been implemented for questions.

“We are excited about CARA go-live, and we greatly appreciate the Baylor research community for walking alongside us through the implementation process,” Susan Stearsman, Associate Vice Provost for Research, said. “CARA will give us all the transparency and efficiency we need to collaborate in proposal development and award management.“