Resources for New Faculty and Administrators


The OSP and RGC websites are your source for up-to-date information on the Pre and Post Award processes. The websites are regularly maintained and provide information on processes and systems for anyone using an internet connected computer. Persons seeking information regarding Pre (OSP) and Post (RGC) Award should always check these websites first as the information being sought is likely addressed.

Compass is Emory's enterprise-wide PeopleSoft Financial system. Compass replaced the separate University and Healthcare accounting systems (FAS and CODA) on September 1, 2009. Compass was designed to interface with Emory's pre-existing systems such as: PeopleSoft HCM, Payroll, Human Resources, Student Administration, Emory Express (SciQuest), PMM, IDX, and Healthquest.

Emory University and Emory Healthcare are different businesses, but they share a need for common business functions, such as vendor payments, approval requests, journal entry submissions, etc. Compass, in conjunction with Emory's other enterprise-wide systems, enables Emory to fully leverage the wealth of information that, in the past, existed in disparate systems, spreadsheets, and databases throughout the enterprise.

Access Compass

EPEX is a bolt-on to the Compass system, the purpose of which is to assist in budget development, electronic routing, and Institutional approval related to extramural funding at Emory. EPEX is a necessary accompaniment to any Grant or Contract requiring Institutional endorsement. EPEX:

  • Provides the data necessary to record information sufficient for internal tracking and reporting purposes
  • Facilitates the entry of proposals in the PeopleSoft Grants system
  • Is accessible to users who have security to enter proposals into PeopleSoft from any computer
  • Allows for electronic routing and approval of proposals for sponsored programs

All proposals, regardless of the submission system utilized, MUST be fully routed in EPEX prior to submission.

Learn more about EPEX.

Cayuse 424 is an online proposal development system that is available to Emory investigators for the submission of federal grant proposals. It is important to note that, while Cayuse 424 is available for roughly 97% of federal grant opportunities available in Grants.gov, there may be a few programs for which Cayuse 424 cannot be used.

To prepare those applications which cannot be submitted through Cayuse 424, investigators must use the Adobe forms kit provided on the Grants.gov site and submit the kit to OSP. As with all proposals, the standard routing in Emory Proposal Express (EPEX) is required for Grants.gov proposals. Proposals to be submitted using Cayuse must be routed to OSP using EPEX as well.

Please note that non-federal proposals are NOT submitted through Cayuse 424. These applications should be submitted in the manner prescribed by each agency.

If you currently have access to the Grants module in Compass, please send an email to psgrants@emory.edu with Cayuse Access in the subject line. In the body of the email, please indicate your name, Emory NetID, and department. For PI access, in addition to the above information, please indicate that the individual is currently a PI in the Compass system.

If you do not currently have access to the Grants module in Compass, please complete the EPEX Access Form (for administrators), as well, as the required EPEX training or PI Eligibility form (PI's are not required to attend EPEX training). Both forms can be located on the EPEX page of the OSP website. Cayuse access will be granted concurrently with access to Compass/EPEX.

Learn more about Cayuse

The Emory Contracts Tracking System (eCTS) is an electronic records system that contains the status and other related information on incoming contracts received by the OSP Contracts Group (clinical trial agreements, data use agreements, confidentiality/non-disclosure agreements, government sponsored research agreements, etc.). The database allows faculty and staff to track the status of specific agreements (from receipt to full execution), as well as the ability to obtain additional information related to a specific agreement(s). All Emory faculty and staff have access to the database via their Emory Net ID (also known as SSO as above). The database is a web-based system, allowing faculty and staff to access information remotely and conveniently. Access Database (login required)

The online modules provide overview information on such topics as the A-21, and A-110. The modules can be accessed from any Internet connected computer, but as yet are not optimized for handheld devices. Access these modules using Emory's Learning Management.

Effort System (ERS)

Effort is certified using the online ERS system. Training dates for Effort Certification can be found in Emory's Learning Management System.

The Space Survey System is used to for space allocation and for determining the appropriate Federally Negotiated F&A rate. The Space Survey System utilizes the Emory SSO (Net ID) for log-in authentication.

Space Survey

"The Electronic Research Administration (ERA) Commons is a virtual meeting place where NIH extramural grantee organizations, grantees, and the public can receive and transmit information about the administration of biomedical and behavioral research. The ERA Commons is divided into both unrestricted and restricted portions that provide for public and confidential information, respectively" (from the ERA Commons web page).

Access the system

Grants.gov is a source to FIND and APPLY for federal grants. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is the managing partner for Grants.gov. All federal funding opportunities can be found on the Grants.gov site.

Visit Grants.gov

FastLane is the National Science Foundation (NSF) online website through which NSF conducts their relationship to researchers and potential researchers, reviewers, and research administrators and their organizations (from the FastLane web page).

Access NSF FastLane

ProposalCENTRAL is an e-grantmaking website shared by many government, non-profit, and private grant-making organizations. It requires a separate log-in than the other aforementioned systems. Agencies that use ProposalCENTRAL include but are not limited to: American Cancer Society, American Lung Association, Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, Georgia Cancer Coalition, Lupus Foundation of America, Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure and many others.

Access ProposalCentral