Administrative Advisor and Committee Chair Virtual Handbook

We appreciate your service as an Administrative Advisor to a North Central project (NC, NCCC, NCERA, NCDC, or NCAC). You serve a key role to ensure that the multistate research program can its function.

This virtual notebook is assembled to assist you in carrying out your duties as an administrative advisor. You may wish to print the material and create your own hard copy notebook. As you carry out your activities as an AA, you may think of additional information that would be helpful or you may come across information that should be posted here. In that case, please email Christina Hamilton with the material. In this way, we will continue to update the virtual notebook and make steady improvements.

1. Procedural Training

Successful AA Checklist: New AAs should read this FIRST!

NCRA Detailed Guidelines for AAs 

NIMSS Webinar Training Handout (for NC AAs only) 


New SAES Director Guidelines and Information 

How to apply for a new NCRA project (NCDCs and NC-500 series projects only)

Instructions for setting up NCRA proposals in NIMSS (new and renewal NC-type projects, NCCCs, and NCERAs only)

Preparing for your project's midterm (year three) review

2. North Central Regional Multistate Project Guidelines - AAs should review Appendices N-1, & O

   Administrative Advisor FAQ

3. NIMSS Manual
4. Reporting Requirements/Timing

   Meeting Authorization

   • *Generic AA PowerPoint now available to take to meetings*
   • Downloadable version of the AA PowerPoint Meeting Guide 

   SAES-422: Submission of Annual Reports or Meeting Minutes

   Termination Reports

   Impact Statement Requirement

   Writing an Effective Impact Statement

   Assigning Editing Authorization to Participants

5. Project Participation (Appendix E)

   Successfully Adding and Integrating Members onto an Existing Multistate Project

   Appendix E Requirements for Each Region

   To Create/Edit Appendix E

6. NCRA Project Development and Approval Process 

   View or Edit a Project or Proposal

   Inviting Participation

   Valid Justification for Retaining an Old Project Number on a Renewed Proposal

   Setting the Cut-off Date for Participant Additions on New Proposals

   NCAC Committee Review Process

   NCRA Evaluation/Review Form Instructions

   Guiding Principles of Proposal Review - Part 1 (Overview, Timing and Appendix C) 

   Guiding Principles of Proposal Review - Part 2 (NCAC Importance and Evaluation Criteria to Consider) 

7. North Central Multistate Projects/Committees

   Current AA list by state, includes eligible candidates

8. Organization and Relationships 

   Glossary of Terms for the Land-Grant System and Related Organizations 

   Acronyms Used 

9. Board on Agriculture Assembly 
10. Rules of Operation for Experiment Station Section Board on Agriculture