NIFA Reporting Web Conference April 12, 2012

Start the Recording…

Bart Hewitt Bart is the Director of the Planning, Accountability, and Reporting Staff. He has responsibility for REEport and Legacy CRIS business functions, the national effort for the State Plan of Work and Annual Report process, the Multistate Research Fund Project Proposal approvals for NIFA; and develops performance information for OMB Performance and NIFA Budget. (202) questions to

User Support (202) or Do not contact Texas A&M support FAQs and other information on the NIFA Reporting Web Conference web page at questions to

Format and Logistics questions to topic suggestions to Conferences are recorded and will be available on the Reporting Web Conference web page at questions to

To Receive Announcements An RWC list will notify interested parties on news, schedules, and other issues relating to the series. To subscribe: –Send an to –Skip your subject line and in the body of your message type: subscribe reportingwc. –Be sure you receive an confirming your subscription. questions to

The REEport System Deployment Deployment Delayed –Why??? –NIFA Data Center Move to NITC questions to

The REEport System Deployment Beta Testing in May at the earliest –9 Sites have now been chosen University of Maine Cornell University of Florida Texas AgriLife Mississippi State University University of Tennessee University of Wisconsin Washington State University questions to

The REEport System Deployment After Beta Testing (30 Days for Fixes) Training Site will be open to all –Up to 60 Days Site Administrators Set Up Sites –On the Production Server –Up to 60 Days REEport Fully Open for Business questions to

Katelyn Sellers Katelyn is the Lead for the State Plan of Work and Annual Report process. She also leads the Multistate Research Fund and will transition into the lead business role for REEport over the next year. Katelyn supports the planning, development, coordination, and delivery of accountability and financial reporting from agency information systems. She is also responsible for conducting business process analyses and implementing related efficiency improvements. (202) Or questions to

Plan of Work Update

Submission Status 98% of POWs with a 4/2 due date have been submitted. 93% of Annual Reports with a 4/2 due date have been submitted. If you have not submitted and have not received an extension, please contact Katelyn at Thank you to all who submitted on time!

NIFA Review Schedule NPLs have 60 days to review Plans/ARs. –If your NPL needs further information or clarification from you, they should contact you within the first 30 days. PARS has 30 days after NPL approval to complete approval process. Most states should expect to receive review results in June.

New this year: Survey of Review Results We want to know how we’re doing! Survey will be sent out to all states. You may VOLUNTARILY fill out the survey with any information you would like to provide to your Reviewer and NIFA as an agency (all fields in the form will be optional). Questions will ask about your general level of satisfaction with the review you received and give you the opportunity to provide additional information you think could help strengthen the review you received. Planned for July-August timeframe.

Example of Survey

Preliminary Analysis of Annual Reports Outcomes are what NIFA looks at first. –Focus on change in condition outcomes, if available, then change in action and knowledge. –Like to see quantitative and qualitative results, if applicable. –They SHOULD be listed in the “state defined outcomes” section of the AR. However….

Preliminary Analysis of Annual Reports (cont’d.) Some states have been using the “activity” section of the Programs to report impact statements and/or short paragraphs. NIFA realizes there is a disconnect between how the states collect certain outcome/impact data and how the structure of the State Defined Outcomes section is set up; precludes them from using the outcomes section correctly. NIFA will be identifying a way in which the screens can be restructured so that states do not have to use the Activity section but also are not forced into using the current structure of the State Defined Outcomes section.

Current screenshot for each State Defined Outcome Measure Potential changes would add the ability for users to enter a general outcome summary paragraph in a text box where bulleted lists or short impact statements could be included (some states are already doing this but putting such data in the “Activity” section of the AR).

Next POW Reporting Cycle – FY13 You will notice changes in the Annual Report –ARs will be linked to new forms for states to voluntarily report on the National Outcomes & Indicators. –Plan in place to integrate OGFM Supplemental forms on Multi & Integrated Activities into POW Software (via file upload button). –Potential for capability to “not report on this program,” with rationale box required. –Potential for changing Outcomes Screen as explained on previous slide.

Beta Testing for Changes NIFA is looking for volunteers to perform beta testing in the software (Aug-Sept timeframe). We will be asking users to input data on national outcomes and indicators and to upload PDF and/or Excel files (all fake data!); will appreciate feedback on what when right/wrong and suggestions for improvements. Please Katelyn if you are interested in being a beta tester!

Plan of Work Update at NERAOC Focus on National Outcomes & Indicators –Ongoing development and future vision. Portion of presentation spent on mini “Writing Better Outcomes” workshop. –See exactly how NIFA uses outcomes and uses them as evidence of past performance/telling the formula fund story. Looking forward to meeting our partners!

Upcoming in Summer & Fall 2012 Newsletter Series: “What goes into the POW/AR? –A complete explanation of the what, where, why, and how of data, screen by screen. Series will also be turned into a presentation to be given during a reporting web conference.

Questions? questions to

See you in June! Next NIFA Reporting Web Conference is scheduled for Thursday, June 14, from 2-4 pm (Eastern) Topic: REEport Update (Progress on Deployment) Grants Policy for Reporting topic suggestions for RWC to Visit the conference web site at for: –The recording of this conference –The slides from this conference –Announcements questions to