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Governance Minutes Archive

January 27, 1988

                                    Minutes

                            COMMISSION ON RESEARCH

                               January 27, 1988

                            President's Board Room

                                   3:30 p.m.

 

 

  MEMBERS PRESENT:  L. J. Arnold, F. M. Asche, J. Cairns, Jr., P. K. Edwards,

                    P. P. Feret, V. R. Fu, W. L. Flowers (for M. R. Geasler),

                    D. B. Hodge, W. G. Huber, D.G.I. Kingston, D. F.

                    McTaggart, J. K. Palmer (for M. D. Pierson), A. W.

                    Steiss, F. W. Stephenson, B. E. LaBerge (for R. A.

                    Teekell), T. E. Bell (for J. F. Wolfe)

 

  MEMBERS ABSENT:   R. A. Comparin, M. Potts, G. G. Schurig

 

  INVITED GUESTS:   M. D. Shelton, C. D. Waring

 

 

  1.  ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

      a.  The College of Arts and Sciences is conducting a planning exercise

          regarding long-range goals and objectives.

 

      b.  A recent article in the CHRONICLE OF HIGHER EDUCATION discussed

          universities that have been successful in putting together a stra-

          tegic planning process.

 

      c.  Interim President Torgersen has called for an overall strategic

          planning process for the University.  The Commission's statement on

          goals and objectives should fit into that general effort.

 

  2.  MINUTES OF THE JANUARY 13, 1988 MEETING

 

      The minutes of the January 13, 1988 meeting were approved as distrib-

      uted.

 

  3.  COMMITTEE REPORTS

 

      a.  COMMITTEE ON CONSTRUCTION AND RENOVATIONS

 

          Dr. Ford has been provided with a copy of the report.

 

      b.  RESEARCH SPACE COMMITTEE

 

          The $3 million authorization is included in the Governor's budget.

          Discussions are being held with the Foundation relative to the pro-

          cedures for accessing the authorized line of credit.  The major

          infrastructure has been installed at the 460 Compound.

 

      c.  COMPUTING COMMITTEE

 

          Further discussions have been initiated with Dr. Heterick regarding

          a new approach to the allocation of SMARTDOLLARS.  It has been sug-

          gested that the University's computing facilities should be viewed

          as a total resource, including those facilities assigned to various

          units in Colleges and Departments.

 

      d.  PURCHASING COMMITTEE

 

          The memo on revisions to purchasing procedures has been distributed

          to Deans, Directors and Department Heads.  The $1,200 level has

          been raised to $2,000.  UVA and VCU have also been granted author-

          ity to use these new procedures.

 

  4.  GOVERNOR'S BUDGET FOR 1988-90 FOR CORE RESEARCH

      Certain assumptions about staff levels and distribution were included

      in the base budget for Core Research.  A further modification was made

      in proficiency increases for classified personnel, requiring that a

      larger portion of the classified salary increases be paid out of non-

      general funds.

 

      Faculty salaries were authorized at 4.96%.  Again, this authorization

      is divided between general and nongeneral funds.  Only the general fund

      portion will be available for distribution, however.  The University

      cannot dictate that the federal government provide additional funds to

      pay faculty salary increases as part of the Hatch and MacIntire-Stennis

      programs.

 

      One set of economic initiatives was funded:  to initiate a strategic

      planning and analysis process and to provide research on product diver-

      sification under Agriculture and Forestry Research.  General fund sup-

      port was recommended for two Commonwealth Centers at Virginia Tech.

 

      The impact of the Governor's budget on position allocations under

      230-01 is significant.  The number of positions in the Core Research

      Program supported by nongeneral funds will have to increase dramat-

      ically by the end of the biennium.

 

      A list of suggested amendments has been prepared by the Research Divi-

      sion.  Out of that list, some number will be endorsed as the Universi-

      ty's amendments, and appropriate patrons from among members of the

      General Assembly then will be asked to submit amendment bills by Janu-

      ary 29th.

 

  5.  REVISIONS TO APPENDIX H:  RESEARCH AGREEMENTS WITH INDUSTRY

 

      It is proposed that this section of the MANUAL OF PROCEDURES be revised

      to achieve some further flexibility regarding the use of the VT Founda-

      tion as a depository for private funds in support of certain types of

      research activities.  This is to be considered a "first reading."  Fur-

      ther discussion will be had at the next meeting of the Commission.

 

  6.  DEFINITION OF A GIFT

 

      If deliverables are expected by the payor, or if benefits are to be de-

      rived by the payor, then the funding involved cannot be considered a

      gift.  If a research protocol is specified, whether or not a delivera-

      ble is called for, this award also is not a gift.

 

  The Chairman suggested that the last two agenda items be carried over to

  the next meeting.  At that time, there will be an opportunity to talk fur-

  ther about the other elements in Appendix H.

 

  The meeting adjourned at 5:05 p.m.  The next meeting will be February 10,

  1988 at 3:30 p.m. in in the President's Board Room.

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