Biography

The Office of Sponsored Projects (OSP) is responsible for soliciting and accepting contracts and grants for research and other sponsored projects on behalf of the Trustees of Boston College. OSP works with campus research faculty to prepare budgets, ensure compliance with BC and sponsor guidelines, and signs off on the final submission.

The position of University Director of Research was first filled by Dr. Walter Driscoll on May 1, 1963. Effective upon his appointment was the requirement that all proposals for research and grants to governmental agencies, foundations and industry made from the various departments and schools throughout the University should have the approval of the chairman and/ or dean. They should be submitted to the Office of Research who would in turn will obtain the appropriate signature from an officer of the corporation.

The new Director was responsible for providing assistance with proposal projects to the faculty. Initially, the position reported directly to the President, Michael Walsh, but in September of 1965 the reporting lines changed, with the Office of Research having to report to the Provost instead. In December of 1965 Charles F. Flaherty was hired as the office's first Assistant to the Director of University Research.

In 1969, Samuel Aronoff was hired as the new Dean of the Graduate School, and soon after, became the first Vice President for Research as well. He was responsible for exercising executive responsibility for the review of recommendations of the deans, directors, or other heads of schools, colleges, and other educational and research units with respect to research proposals, research budgets, and appointment of personnel under research budgets.

Aronoff formed the University Research Council in March, 1971 to clarify the place of research in the university, to provide optimal conditions for obtaining research support, to facilitate the fulfillment of the research commitments of the university, and to help in integrating research and educational endeavors.

In 2002, Boston College appointed John Carfora to head the program, newly renamed as the Office of Sponsored Programs to differentiate it from the Office of Institutional Research and Planning. As of 2022, the OSP continues to report up to the Provost’s Office.

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