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Governance Minutes ArchiveDecember 9, 1987
Minutes COMMISSION ON RESEARCH December 9, 1987 President's Board Room 3:30 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT: L. J. Arnold, F. M. Asche, P. K. Edwards, P. P. Feret, V. R. Fu, W. L. Flowers (for M. R. Geasler), D. B. Hodge, D. G. I. Kingston, M. D. Pierson, G. G. Schurig, A. S. Steiss, F. W. Stephenson, R. A. Teekell MEMBERS ABSENT: J. Cairns, Jr., R. A. Comparin, W. G. Huber, D. F. McTaggart, M. Potts, J. F. Wolfe INVITED GUESTS: G. R. Hooper, C. D. Waring, K. A. Wilkins 1. ANNOUNCEMENT: An advanced copy of the NSF report for FY 1986 shows Virginia Tech ranked 44th in total research expenditures and 77th in federal obli- gations for research and development. 2. MINUTES OF THE NOVEMBER 11, 1987 MEETING The minutes of the November 11, 1987 meeting of the Commission on Re- search were approved as distributed. 3. COMMITTEE REPORTS a. COMPUTING COMMITTEE At the end of November, 47.1 percent of the 230-01 SMARTDOLLARS al- located to the Colleges and Centers had been expended. b. PURCHASING COMMITTEE More flexible procurement procedures will be in effect at Virginia Tech on a trial basis. c. CONSTRUCTION AND RENOVATION COMMITTEE Mr. Ridenour has written a letter to the Commission, dated December 3rd, in response to the report of this Committee. The letter states a reorganization plan is being developed with major emphasis on facilities. 4. COMMISSION RESOLUTION 86-87A The Resolution was discussed in some detail at the December 7 meeting of the University Council and will come up for second reading at the next Council meeting on January 4th. Mr. Ridenour has suggested that representatives of the Commission meet with him and others, including someone from the Development Office and the Foundation, to go over the resolution and some closely related matters. Dr. Kingston, Dr. Arnold, and Dr. Hodge volunteered to serve on this Committee. 5. CORE RESEARCH PROGRAM A memo, entitled: "Academic and Institutional Support: Further Questions", was distributed in response to further questions raised by Dr. Stephenson. The term Core Research is used as a shorthand for what the State views as four programs. Six subprograms--AFR, CER, EWRR, IEDR, SR, and VMR--are unique to Virginia Tech. The other three programs--Academic Support, Institutional Support, and Operations and Maintenance--are common to all institutions of higher education. The supporting activ- ities are funded, in part, from the State's portion (the 30% account) of the indirect cost recoveries which are reallocated to Virginia Tech as part of the Core Research budget. Dr. Hooper offered to furnish an explanation to the research community when solicitations for Core Research proposals are sought this year. The Core Research Program will remain an agenda item. Suggested strat- egies for the Core Program will be discussed in the January meetings. 6. RESEARCH SPACE LONG-RANGE PLANNING The Virginia Tech Foundation will provide a line of credit for short- term building and remodelling. Also, a blanket authorization in the amount of $3 million for the 1988-90 biennium to finance building re- quests at the Research Compound and certain remodelling projects has been submitted to Richmond. Research Division will assume the goal of making sure, to the extent possible, that space is available for conducting research and that it is properly heated, maintained, etc. Most of the "flex" money in the Research Division will be directed toward space--building special structures, remodelling certain space, and trying to add space. Once this plan is implemented, the Research Division will gradually have less and less money available for cost-sharing of special equipment needs, etc. While this plan for short-term off-campus space is laudable and speaks well to the more pressing immediate needs, care must be taken to pre- vent it being interpreted as the solution to research space needs. The long-term planning effort for on-campus space is essential and will be pursued vigorously. 7. RESEARCH ASSOCIATE/RESEARCH SCIENTIST Appendix M of the Manual of Procedures was distributed. The defi- nitions of the Research Associate, Research Scientist and Senior Re- search Scientist positions may need further amplification. The Research Associate position is now used as a professional staff posi- tion. The Research Scientist position is being viewed by some as a promotion category for Research Associates. This is not the intent. It was suggested that, rather than trying to reclassify the person, the focus should be on the definition of the position. This item will be carried over to the next meeting because time ran out for further discussion. The meeting adjourned at 5:05 p.m. The next meeting will be January 13, 1988 at 3:30 p.m. in the President's Board Room. OWL:mar
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