Articles Journal of Research Administration Volume XLI, Number 3, 2010 69 Challenges of Implementing the NIH Extramural Associate Research Development Award (EARDA)

and Human Development (NICHD). Its contents are solely the responsibility of the author and do not represent the official views of NICHD. The impacts and challenges of implementing an NIH/NICHD Extramural Associate Research Development Award (EARDA) at a private Minority-Serving-Institution (MSI) are examined. This article outlines efforts to gain institutional buy-in and challenges encountered in creating a functioning Office of Sponsored Research and implementing research policies where none existed previously. The model combines NIH training and pilot research funds with on-campus outreach and professional development, to effect change in the research culture at a primarily undergraduate teaching university. Challenges discussed include how best to engage faculty with heavy teaching loads, managing unrealistic faculty expectations about grants and funding, the need to engage institutional leaders in creating a strategic research development plan, locating researcher-appropriate funding opportunities, and developing partnerships to augment research opportunities at non-research institutions. The successes and challenges that emerged can inform research administrators of the needs of faculty while they act as agents of change at universitie