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Governance Minutes ArchiveSeptember 23, 1987
Minutes COMMISSION ON RESEARCH President's Board Room 3:30 p.m. September 23, 1987 MEMBERS PRESENT: L. J. Arnold, F. M. Asche, J. Cairns, Jr., R. A. Comparin, P. K. Edwards, V. R. Fu, D. B. Hodge, W. G. Huber, D.G.I. Kingston, D. F. McTaggart, C. L. Foy (for G. W. Norton), M. D. Pierson, M. Potts, G. C. Schurig, A. W. Steiss, F. W. Stephenson, L. A. Harris (for R. A. Teekell), and J. F. Wolfe MEMBERS ABSENT: M. R. Geasler INVITED GUESTS: G. R. Hooper, M. D. Shelton The Chairman welcomed the new Commission members. 1. ANNOUNCEMENTS The University has been awarded two CIT Technology Development Centers: in Power Electronics and in Fiber Optics. Tech has submitted three proposals for Commonwealth Centers--in Forest Products, Materials Re- search, and Fiber Optics--which will be considered as part of the Gov- ernor's budget submission for 1988-90. Discussions have been held with the Virginia Tech Foundation regarding the development of endowment op- portunities. A commitment has been received from the Foundation to provide a $2.5 million "line of credit" to be used in conjunction with construction of new research facilities. Negotiations have been concluded with the Department of Health and Hu- man Services (DHHS) with regard to the indirect cost rate for Research. Beginning in 1987-88, Tech will have a PREDETERMINED RATE. Once the rate is set for the year, it will not be subjected to later review. The new rate will not be used in proposals until official notice is re- ceived from DHHS. New flexibility in the certification requirements should eliminate the need for non-research faculty to submit Personal Activity Reports. 2. MINUTES OF THE MAY 27, 1987 MEETING As a result of a discussion of the minutes and the attached Resolution 86-87A - POLICY AND PROCEDURES FOR SPONSORED PROGRAMS SUPPORTED BY THE VIRGINIA TECH FOUNDATION, the Minutes will be amended to insert: "Com- mission expressed concerns regarding disbursement of interest earnings." at the end of the second paragraph of item 4. Under this proposal, sponsored funds would continue to be awarded to the University, and expenditures would continue to be made in the usual manner through sponsored project accounts. The Commission will have a direct voice in deciding the method of disbursement of interest earned. The Minutes of the May 27, 1987 meeting were accepted as amended. 3. COMMITTEE REPORTS a. SUBCOMMITTEE ON CONSTRUCTION AND RENOVATION The report submitted by this committee reflects a composite effort to bring together issues and problems that have been discussed in the past relative to the process of construction and renovation on campus. Since the convener of this committee was absent, dis- cussion and Commission action on the report will be carried over to the next meeting. b. COMMITTEE ON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES Dr. Hooper recapped how the Committee operates under the new Intel- lectual Properties Policy adopted last December. When some crea- tive event occurs that results in an intellectual property, a disclosure should be prepared (with the aid of the Intellectual Property Officer) and presented to the appropriate Subcommittee to determine if the University has a proprietary interest. A recom- mendation is made to the Provost as to the disposition of the prop- erty. If the University owns the property, the faculty member must assign his or her interest in this property to the University. The property assignment is then transmitted to the Vice President for Finance who makes an assignment on behalf of the University to the Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc. (VTIP). VTIP seeks li- censes, marketing agreements, etc. with a variety of sources, sets up a royalty dispersement according to the Intellectual Properties Policy, and maintains the appropriate protection of the property (e.g., patents, copyrights, licensing agreements). An annual report must be submitted to the State Council for Higher Education in Virginia (SCHEV) which identifies all of the proper- ties in which the University has a proprietary interest. Disclo- sures are important, because they establish the benchmark for any potential patent pursuit. It was suggested that publishing the outcome of disclosures that have gone through the process and are earning income for the University and faculty member would perhaps encourage faculty to disclose. c. COMMITTEE ON GOALS AND OBJECTIVES Copies of the goals and objectives adopted by the Commission last May will be sent to the new members. Members were urged to con- sider strategies to achieve the successful implementation of these goals and objectives. 4. MANUAL OF PROCEDURES The Chairman reported on the new faculty appointments for Research Sci- entist and Senior Research Scientist developed last year in concert with the Commission on Faculty Affairs. Recruitment of persons to work on sponsored projects has been facilitated by these additional catego- ries. These definitions also provide a better understanding of the ap- propriate use of Research Associates, primarily as professional staff appointments. 5. RESEARCH BUDGET SUBMISSION FOR 1988-90 The University budget request for 1988-90 was submitted as a single ex- hibit. The document was divided into three subsections--Instruction, Research, and Extension. Tables were distributed to the Commission members, summarizing the relevant figures for the Core and Sponsored Research Programs. Two opportunities are presented beyond the base budget to ask for addi- tional funding. Areas outside the control of the University are ad- dressed under CURRENT POLICIES. AGENCY INITIATIVES, on the other hand, are programs generated by the various departments and colleges and in- clude recommendations for new initiatives broadly defined under the category "Economic Development". After the Executive Budget goes for- ward to the General Assembly, the University will still have an oppor- tunity to seek sponsorship for individual items by members of the legislature. Dr. Hooper pointed out that if all of the nongeneral funds are not col- lected, the University will be held to the budgeted ratio. But if it goes the other way, no adjustment will be made. The Commission will be kept advised during the year as the budget moves forward. A request has been sent to each of the Colleges involved in the list of components in Economic Development asking for the identifi- cation of faculty members who are conversant with the areas. 6. DATA FROM ADMINISTRATORS CONFERENCE Relevant information from the Self-Study report on Research and Gradu- ate Studies was shared with the Commission. The recommendations that will appear in the Self Study can serve as future agenda items for the Commission. The meeting adjourned at 4:50 p.m. The next meeting will be October 14th, 1987 at 3:30 p.m. in the President's Board Room. mar
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