The next installment in Thomas University’s popular Science Café series will be “Public Television and Hands-on Science Education,” presented by Tasha Weinstein and Misty Penton of WFSU Public Media on Tuesday, Nov. 19.
Last year students from Thomas County Schools and the City of Thomasville School System who participated in Thomas University Division of Education’s Camp STEMtastic collected enough donations and bottle caps to be recycled into a buddy bench for each school in both systems. When Scott Sweeting, Science coordinator for Thomas County Schools, realized they would far exceed the number of bottle caps required for their school system’s benches, he suggested donating the extra bottle caps to Thomas University for a bench on campus.
The RSA Grant Project Assistant is responsible for confidential documentation management and working closely with the Project Director, federal contacts, RSA Scholars, and TU staff involved in the grant functions.
Major Duties
Manage documentation
Build a spreadsheet of all grant Strategies, Measures, and Responsibilities related to the Project Assistant and update compliance efforts monthly.
Maintain work time log.
Ensure RSA Scholars sign all required documentation at required intervals.
Collect the driver’s license or passport for each Scholar, proving US citizenship.
Upload all student documentation into the Payback Information Management System (PIMS), including all demographic and financial reports at required intervals, usually each semester until RSA Scholar graduation or exit from the RSA grant program.
Keep all scholar contact information up-to-date, in PIMS and as hard copies in our files. This process is done each semester for each Scholar until graduation or Scholars exit the program at which time, RSA federal contractors follow-up with work obligations and/or financial repayment.
Ensure quarterly and annual reports are filed in a timely manner, complete, and uploaded on the correct database.
Quarterly reports provide the federal RSA office with a narrative report of meeting grant outcomes, Scholar graduations, Scholar drop outs, those in qualified employment, and those in repayment as well as providing a budget report.
An Annual Performance Report is made that explains in detail how the goals and objectives have been met, or are being met, as well as any changes that have been made to enhance our Grant performance. This report also includes the expectation of progress for the remaining portion of the federal fiscal year and preparing those for the following year’s Annual Performance Report.
Data Collection
Follow each Scholar through their program with
Obligation tracking (excel spreadsheet)
Manage demographic data
RSA Scholar recruitment
Work with Project Director to engage in recruiting activities such as developing announcements, meeting with Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) offices, setting up booths at conferences.
RSA Scholar onboarding
Based on data, anticipate openings in the grant based on graduation or exiting of current RSA Scholars.
Provide each Scholar with paperwork clearly explaining their work obligation upon graduation or exiting the program.
Provide each Scholar with information on their financial obligations incurred if they do not choose to work in qualified employment that is acceptable to the RSA.
Send new RSA Scholars with a Scholar Agreement, Memo, and an RSA Checklist to further explain all benefits and obligations of the scholar.
Notify the TU Business Office to release funds each semester once all documentation is complete and RSA Scholars are ready for the semester.
Be available to answer Scholar questions or concerns throughout the program.
Notify fieldwork placement Coordinator each semester of all the current RSA Scholars so that they can fulfill their course requirements of practicum and internship with proper RSA approved placements.
Attend meetings
Attend federal webinars related to the RSA grant.
Attend quarterly meetings with RSA Scholars.
Attend quarterly meetings with federal Project Manager.
Knowledge, skills, abilities
Knowledge of the RSA grant requirements.
Knowledge of the RSA grant databases.
Knowledge of the university policies and procedures.
Knowledge of online education.
Skill in operating computer and job-related software programs.
