MODULE TITLE
Purple Sheep CPE™ — Institutional Funding & Proposal Development (Pre-Award) Module 2: Financial Stewardship Systems in Sponsored Programs
PROGRAM IDENTIFICATION
Purple Sheep CPE™
Institutional Funding & Proposal Development (Pre-Award) Series™
1.0 CPE Contact Hour | Self-Paced Professional Education
MODULE OVERVIEW
Financial stewardship is not a downstream function. It is established during pre-award through the design of institutional accountability structures, oversight expectations, and control systems that govern how funds will be managed.
Institutions that lack defined stewardship systems introduce financial exposure before funding is received. When accountability is unclear, monitoring is inconsistent, and roles are fragmented, institutions operate without enforceable control environments.
This module provides a structured, risk-based examination of financial stewardship systems within sponsored programs. It focuses on how institutions define accountability across departments and central offices, establish monitoring expectations, and implement oversight mechanisms that sustain compliance and financial integrity.
Institutional exposure rises when stewardship is treated as an operational responsibility rather than a governed system. These weaknesses create recurring risk because they allow financial activity to occur without consistent oversight, documentation, or escalation pathways.
KEY AREAS OF FOCUS
This module examines:
• Financial stewardship frameworks within institutional environments
• Institutional roles in financial monitoring and accountability
• Coordination between departmental units and central research administration
• Stewardship controls, risk indicators, and oversight triggers
• Governance structures that support sustained financial accountability
These areas represent the institutional control points that determine whether financial oversight is proactive or reactive.
PROGRAM STRUCTURE & INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN
This module is structured to reinforce institutional control system design and governance accountability.
The module includes:
• Scenario-based analysis reflecting real institutional stewardship challenges
• Structured evaluation of financial oversight gaps and risk indicators
• Applied learning activities designed to assess accountability frameworks
• Knowledge validation through formal assessment
Topic structure follows the standardized Purple Sheep CPE™ model, including required engagement activities and a formal knowledge check to support audit defensibility.
REGULATORY & COMPLIANCE ALIGNMENT
This module aligns with established regulatory and internal control frameworks, including:
• 2 CFR 200 (Uniform Guidance)
• ICH Good Clinical Practice (E6)
• Applicable FDA regulations governing sponsored and clinical activity
• COSO Internal Control Framework principles
Content reflects how financial stewardship expectations are operationalized within institutional environments.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Upon completion of this module, participants will be able to:
• Evaluate institutional exposure created by weak financial stewardship systems
• Assess whether accountability structures are clearly defined and enforceable
• Analyze coordination between departmental and central administrative functions
• Identify breakdowns in monitoring, oversight, and escalation processes
• Determine whether financial controls support sustained compliance
• Apply governance-based approaches to strengthening institutional stewardship systems
COMPLETION & AUDIT VERIFICATION
Completion of this module requires:
• Full review of all instructional content
• Completion of required engagement activities
• Successful completion of the knowledge check assessment
Participant progression and completion data are recorded to support institutional documentation and audit verification requirements.
SERIES CONTINUITY
This module builds directly on award interpretation and institutional obligation analysis by establishing how financial accountability is operationalized within institutional systems.
It supports subsequent modules addressing:
• Cost allowability and financial judgment
• Subrecipient governance and third-party accountability
• Documentation systems and compliance controls
• Award closeout governance and institutional exposure
The strength of financial stewardship systems directly influences institutional compliance, audit outcomes, and long-term operational stability.
CPE STATEMENT
This module, combined with required engagement activities, represents 1.0 CPE contact hour.
CREDENTIAL ALIGNMENT
This module is designed to support continuing education and professional development aligned with:
• Research Administrators Certification Council (RACC) expectations (CRA, CPRA, CFRA)
• Clinical research compliance and certification domains, including the Certified Clinical Research Professional (CCRP) credential administered by the Society of Clinical Research Associates (SOCRA)
• Clinical research competencies aligned with ACRP certification frameworks
• Internal audit and compliance competencies aligned with CIA principles
Module Access & Availability
Access to individual modules is provided for 90 days from the date of enrollment.
Individual modules are offered as part of the initial launch phase through December 31, 2026. Beginning January 2027, Purple Sheep CPE™ will transition to a series-based model designed to support deeper learning, stronger outcomes, and institutional alignment.