THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON
RESEARCH AND SPONSORED PROGRAMS
NOTICE 2008-1
February 12, 2008

TO: Deans, Directors, Department Chairpersons and Department Administrators (for distribution to all faculty)
FROM: Kim Moreland, Associate Vice Chancellor for Research Administration
SUBJECT:  New Electronic Routing Form (WISPER): Signature requirement changes

RSP is pleased to announce that the Extramural Support Transmittal Form (the "t-form") has gone electronic. On February 25, when Program Release is implemented on campus, a new module called WISPER (WISconsin Proposal Electronic Routing) will be available. WISPER allows Principal Investigators (PIs), department chairs and deans to sign the document electronically, eliminating the need for the old paper t-form.

WISPER represents a major change in the way the University collects PI certifications regarding extramural support documents. RSP has worked with Legal Services to determine that logging into WISPER with your UW-Madison NetID and clicking the “I Sign” button is a reasonable replacement for hard copy signatures.
This electronic "signature" will greatly streamline processing and routing of documents around campus. However, it will be the responsibility of PIs to log into the system and "Sign" the documents, just as PIs currently sign the paper forms. It is important that PIs should personally login to complete the first screen rather than giving someone else their NetID. Department chairs will also sign electronically. A few of the benefits of this new system are listed below: Training is already underway. Information about the system can be found at http://www.rsp.wisc.edu/WISPER/

xc: School/College Research Administrators
 

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