Are Universities Measuring Grant Success Systematically?

p strongOnly about one-third of faculty say their institutions formally analyze grant success, leaving many universities without the feedback needed to improve proposal strategy./strong/p p Primary Research Group's survey of 378 higher-education faculty found that one-third reported an institutional program for analyzing grant success rates. The report examines whether institutions track outcomes by sponsor, field, proposal type and other variables, as well as the time and resources consumed by submissions./p p A single institution-wide win rate can conceal more than it reveals. Renewal proposals, early-career awards, major center grants and small foundation applications have different baselines. Useful analysis should connect outcomes to sponsor, program, budget range, faculty career stage, resubmission history and the kind of support received./p p Research offices also need a learning loop. If reviewed proposals consistently fail on fit, methods, budgets or broader impacts, training and internal review can be targeted. If success is high but proposal volume is low, the barrier may be faculty time or awareness rather than proposal quality./p p The goal is not to rank scholars publicly. It is to identify where the institution can improve return on faculty effort. A confidential dashboard with agreed definitions can turn grants administration from recordkeeping into evidence-based research development./p p  /p