RSCRetreat 5/8/14
Present:MichaelHarold,JackFletcher,WynneChin,EzemenariObasi,Pradeep
Sharma,GangbingSong,MariaSolino,StuartLong,KarlTitz,AlessandroCarrera,
GreggRoman,T.RandallLee,StuartDryer,AlanBurns,AllanJacobson,Christie
Peters,AndrewDavis,VenkatSelvamanickam,StevenCraig,Ramanan
Krishnamoorti,CrisMilligan,RathindraBose,MaryAnnOttinger,KirstinRochford,
MaribelSalazar,AshleyMerwin,RozlynReep,BrookeGowl
Absent:GregoryMarinic,HalukOgmen,RobertPalmer,MichaelZvolensky,Richard
Bond,LuisTorres,GeorgeZouridakis,AbdelhakBensaoula,JacquelineHawkins,
MarkClarke,PatrickBordnick
ChairDr.Haroldcalledtheretreattoorderat9:09am.
WelcomebytheChair:Dr.Haroldstartedtheretreatbyintroductions.After
introductionshewelcomedeveryone,especiallyguests.
ApprovalofAprilMinutes:Dr.Haroldmentionedonechangetotheminutes
providedbyStuartLong,whichwasthenameofanaward–theUdallScholars
award.Theawardisinrecognitionofattentiontoenvironmentalconcerns,and
thereareonly50awardedinthenation.
Dr.Fletchermadethemotionforapprovaloftheminutes.Dr.Solinoseconded.The
minuteswereapproved.
StatusReportbyVP/VCDr.Bose:
 Dr.Bosegavehisgreetingstothecommittee.Hegaveanupdateonwhatis
happeninginthenation.
o TheCouncilonGovernmentalRelations(COGR)meets3‐4timesper
year.COGRiscollectinginformationandsentoutasurveytoseewhat
issuesfacultymembersencounterintermsofresearch.Areportlists
theseissues;somearecommonnationwidesuchas:grantprocesses
forreportsubmissions,reportingformatsnotbeinguniform,finance
andbudgets,personnelmanagementandhiringofemployees,effort
reporting,conflictofinterest,responsibleconductofresearch,and
datasharing.ThemajoritemarticulatedwasIRBandadministrative
burdenassociatedwithexpandedrequirementsandresponsibilities.
COGRhascollectedregulationsthathavebeenpassedbythefederal
governmentsince1991.Dr.Bosewilldistributethelisttocommittee
memberssotheycanappreciatewhatDORstaffgothrougheachday.
 Dr.BosehasbeendealingwiththeADVANCEgrantandhasspenttime
negotiatingwithNSF(PresidentKhatoristhePIonthisgrant).
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Dr.Bose’smainconcernishowDORwillimplementA‐81(A‐81isthe
consolidationof8circularsinto1,hencethenameA‐81).Ithastobe
implementedbyDecember26th;hewillworkhardwithfaculty,Financeand
Administration,andIT.Itisnotasinglepointimplementation.
IDCTaskforceUpdate:
o BecauseofunusualcircumstancesinwhichBoardmeetingswere
called,Dr.Carluccihashadtopreparebudgetinformationforthose
meetings.Asaresult,hehasnotbeenabletocallthelasttaskforce
meeting.However,Dr.Carluccihascollectedalloftheinformation
thatisneeded.TherealissueishowwetreatIDCuniformlyforthe
PI’s.ThisissuewillneedtobediscussedandDr.Carlucciwillholdthe
taskforcemeetingsoon.
AnimalCareOperations(ACO)Update:
o WhenDr.BosefirstarrivedatUH,theplanwastohavepartofthe4th
floorintheHealthandBiomedicalScienceBuildingforanimalcare
operationfacilities.DuringHurricaneKatrina,therewereuniversities
thatlostanimalsduetobasementanimalhousing.Sinceitisnotideal
tohaveanimalcareoperationsinabasement,thedecisionwasmade
tocompletetheHealthandBiomedicalSciencesBuilding.The
estimatewasoriginally$8M,butendedupcostingaround$10M.Dr.
BosecalledameetingwiththeACOuserstoexplainthepurposefor
notrebuildingthefacilityintheSR2basement,andrequestedinput
ontheirneedsintheiranimalfacilitiessothatthosecouldbeaddedto
thenewfacility.
o TheplanwastocreatetheHealthandBiomedicalSciencefacilityand
alsokeepSR2asasatellitefacilityforthoseinvestigatorswhocannot
movetheiranimalsduetostudyconstraints.
o Rightnowtherearenodeadlinesordatesforanymoves.The
decisiononSR2hasnotbeenmade,butthereisaplantokeepitasa
satellitefacility.
o TheyarealsoworkingontheHealthandScienceBuilding2.Theplan
wouldbetomoveBiologytothatbuildingandovertimedismantle
SR2,andthenmovePharmacyandotherdepartments.BecauseDr.
BosewastoldbythedeanofNSMthatsomefacultydonotwantto
leave,hewouldliketoidentifythegroupsinBiologyandChemistry
thatconductanimalstudiesandtalkwiththesegroupstoidentify
whattheirneedsaretoseeifsomeofthemcanbemovedasthenew
buildingprogresses.
o Also,therearequestionsaboutperdiemchargesbeinghighatour
university.Ifwewanttobringthecostdown,Dr.Bosewillworkwith
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thedeansandchairs.Dr.BosehasaskedDr.Brammertogivehiman
estimateontheshortfallbasedoncurrentusers.
o Dr.DryerstatedthatheisinBiologyandhopesthateveryanimalcare
userisconsideredaspotentiallogisticalissuesemerge.
o Dr.Bosestatedthatwewillkeepthesatellitefacilitiesforcritical
experiments.Nodecisionhasbeenmadeyet,andrightnowwewant
todeterminewhatthenatureofthesatellitefacilitywillbeandthen
begintheplanningprocessofmovingmostofthelabstothenew
facility.
o Dr.RomanexpressedconcernaboutsomeofthePI’snotbeing
involved,andaskedifthereisawaytoseewhatusersarebeing
lookedat.
o Dr.BosestatedthattheExecutiveDirectorofACOisworkingonthis
andwillbeholdingafollow‐upmeetingregardingthisissue.
o Dr.Fletcherstatedthatforminganadvisorygroupwouldprovidea
systematicwayforuserstohaveinput.
o Dr.LeeaskedifDr.Bosewouldwelcomeauseradvisorygroup.Dr.
Boserespondedyes,andhehasalistofusershecansendtotheRSC
Chair.TheChaircanpickusersfromthelisttoserveonthe
committee.
o Dr.FletchermadeamotiontohavetheRSCformanadvisory
committeeforACOtoworkwithDr.Brammeronanimaluserissues.
o Dr.Ottingerstatedthatshewouldliketobeapartoftheadvisory
group,andDr.Boseagreed.
o Dr.Dryersecondedthemotionandthemotionwasapproved.
Finances:
o AttheBoardmeetingyesterdaytherewasadiscussiononbudgetand
finances,andthenewpolymerchemistryfacilityfromtheWelchgrant
tofinishtheSTLextensionbuildingthatwaspresentedfor$4.6M.
o Dr.CarluccialsopresentedplanstocompletespaceforTIMESand
Psychologyonthe4thflooroftheBiomedicalbuilding.TheBoard
approvedtheitemspresentedandtheywillmoveforward.
ManufacturingInitiativePresentationbyDr.Selvamanickam:Dr.Haroldintroduced
Dr.Selvamanickam,MDAndersonChairProfessorofMechanicalEngineering,who
wasinvitedtogiveapresentationoninitiativesforauniversitymanufacturing
center.Dr.Selvamanickampresentedthefollowinginformation:
 NeedforaformalcoordinatedeffortatUHtoaddressmanufacturingissues
&opportunities.
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HighpotentialforUHtobeimpactfulinmanufacturingindustry.
ObamaAdministrationestablishedIMI;hasfundingfrom$70‐100million.
Advancedmanufacturing:multi‐agencyinitiative
Institutestoaddressgapsinmanufacturinginnovation.
Fourmanufacturinginstitutescreated;severalmoreontheway.Forty‐five
manufacturinginstitutesplannedinthenext10years.
UHEnergyResearchParkoperationtoacceleratetechnologytransferto
manufacturingandcommercialization.Rapidtransferoftechnology
advancestomanufacturingtoacceleratecommercializationof
superconductorofenergyandotherapplications.
FacilityestablishedinUHEnergyResearchParkforR2Rmanufacturingof
semiconductordevicesforenergyandelectronics.
Roll‐to‐RollMOCVDsystemforadvancedmaterialsoninexpensive,flexible
substrates.
StrongexpertiseanduniquefacilitiesinR2Rprocessingofadvanced
materials.
Roll‐to‐Rollmanufacturingofadvancedmaterialstargetedtoseveral
industries–thinfilmproducts&thinfilmsemiconductors.
CreatingaconsortiumonRoll‐to‐Rollmanufacturingofadvancedmaterials.
Currentpersonnel:11facultymembers,1businessdirector,1safety
manager,and3engineerstonameafew;allcontributingtothecommon
areaofRoll‐to‐Rollmanufacturingofadvancedmaterials.
Dr.JacobsonmentionedtheyhavebeenworkingtobringtheHTScommunity
togetherbeginningwithaworkshoplastfallthatgeneratedareportand
recommendations.Onerecommendationwastoformasteeringcommitteetoput
togetherawhitepapertogototheAdvancedProgramManufacturingOfficein
WashingtonD.C.Dr.Selvamanickamsaidtheyareintheprocessofwritingthat
whitepaper.
Dr.BosefollowedupbysayingthatDr.JacobsonandDr.Selvamanickamare
workingtogetherwithsupportfromtheDODandNASA,andthewhitepaperwill
completealotofgroundwork.HealsowantedtosharethisprogramwiththeRSC.
Dr.Jacobsontoldthecommitteethattheyhavesupportfromthecommunitycollege
system(Houston)andaregraduallybuildingabase.Dr.Haroldsaidtheprojectis
excitingandwishesDr.Selvamanickammuchsuccess.HealsomentionedthatDr.
SelvamanickamjustreceivedanExcellenceinResearch&Scholarshipaward.
ElectionofRSCViceChair:Dr.HaroldtoldthecommitteethattheViceChairwill
servewithDr.Fletcherthenextcomingyearandaskedfornominations.Dr.
FletchernominatedDr.Zouridakisandsaidhe’sdoneanexcellentjobwiththe
Centers&InstitutesSubcommittee.Dr.Haroldcalledforavote.Dr.Zouridakiswas
unanimouslyandenthusiasticallyvotednextViceChair.
RoundtableDiscussiononPotentialNewAward:Dr.Haroldintroducedthepanel
members:Dr.SteveCraig,Economics;Dr.AndrewDavis,MooresSchoolofMusic;
Dr.MariaSolino,PresidentofFacultySenate,HispanicStudies.Thepaneldiscussion
focusedontheResearch&Scholarshipawardandrecognitionofthearts.
Dr.Craigstartedthepaneldiscussionbytellingthecommitteeheappreciatesthe
invitationandfeelsthatthereisaterminologyproblem.TheUniversityhada
researchreportthatshowedgrantdollarsaremorecriticaltoachievescholarshipin
somedisciplines,butnotothers.HeprovidedahandoutfromUSNewsthatshows
comparabilityofdepartmentsinCLASStoNSM.Hewentontosaythatresearch
awardsdon’tnecessarilyreflectstrengthsoftheuniversityiftheyfocusonthe
sciences.Universityawardsshouldreflectthewholeuniversity,likeTier1reflects
thewholeuniversity.Smallgrants,whichare$3000each,areperfectformany
facultymembersinCLASS;whereasthismaynotbesufficientforfacultyinother
colleges.HesuggeststhattheRSCconsiderapproachestoensurerecognitionfor
deservingfacultymembers.
ThenextpanelistwasDr.Davis.Hebeganbysayingheappreciatedtheinvitationto
attendthemeeting.Hesaidhecanaddresssomeissues,especiallyinthe
performingarts.HeworkswithfacultywithsimilarconcernsasDr.Craig,andhad
anopportunitytogoovertheaccomplishmentsuniversity‐widewhenhewas
involvedinthePBK(PhiBetaKappa)campusvisit.Withperformingarts,they
currentlyhavewaystomeasureperformanceandqualitywithsystematic
equivalents.Theyhavecollegerecognitionanditwouldbegoodtohaverecognition
withuniversityawards.
Dr.DryertoldthepanelthatasamusicianandformerchairoftheExcellence
committee,heappreciatestheirinput.Thecommitteethatselectsawards
representstheuniversitybroadlyandheissympathetictowhatthey’resaying.He
isinsupportofaseparateaward;however,aseparateawardisgoingtohavethe
sameproblem,evenwithattemptingtocomeupwithequivalenceacrosscriteriain
differentdisciplines.Thesamepeoplewillcomplain,justtowardsadifferent
committee.
Dr.LongtoldthepanelhehadbeenontheExcellencecommitteeseveraltimes,and
membersintheliberalartsandfineartsagreedontheawardselectionseachtime.
There’sadifferenceinthedisciplines,andtheliberalarts/fineartswillneverbe
abletocompetewhensomeoneislookingatthecomparisons.
Thenextpanelist,Dr.Solinosaidherfocusisontheindividualswhoarediscouraged
anddon’twanttoapply;shebelievesthattheseindividualsshouldbealso
considered.ShehadadiscussionwithDr.BoseandDr.OttingerregardingDOR’s
annualbreakfastrecognizingresearchersandwouldliketoseeitexpandedto
recognizefacultybeyondjustthosewhoreceivemonetarygrants.Thiswillallow
individualstoreceiverecognitionaswellasboostmorale.Therearepeoplefrom
everycollegethatdeserveatleastapatontheback.Weneedbalanceandhaveto
beoneUniversity.Thecurrentperceptionisthatindividualsoutsidethehard
sciencesdon’thaveachance.Whatcanwedotoworkonthatperception?Shealso
mentionedthateverytimetheideaofaseparateawardisraised,it’sforthe
“creativearts”andthisagainwouldonlyservethosespecificallyinthecreativearts.
Dr.SharmasaidhewasontheExcellenceinResearchAwardsubcommittee,andthe
reasonitworksthewayitdoesisbecausesomemembersmaynotunderstandthe
disciplinesthepanelmentioned.
Dr.Dryersaidtheonlywaytoaddressperceptionistohaveanotheraward,butin
thelongrunit’snotgoingtosolvetheproblem.Dr.Solinorespondedbysayingshe
isnotaskingforanewaward.
Dr.Fletcherremindedthecommitteethatin2009therewere8nominations,of
which6camefromNSMandEngineering.TheRSCidentifiedthelackof
nominationsasaproblem,andtriedtomakeiteasierforpeopletonominate.He
saidsomecollegesanddepartmentchairsneedstrongnominationlettersthat
articulateacompellingcaseforeachcandidate.Dr.Haroldaddedthatfrequencyof
nominationsisalsoanissue;asadepartmentchairhewritesabout30lettersper
year.
Dr.Bosesaidthecommitteewashavingagreatconversationandbroughtupgood
issues.Hebelievesthatthemessageisnottocreateaseparatecategoryfor
Excellence,butrathertofigureoutawaytomeasureexcellenceacrossthe
disciplines.
Dr.Romansaidthatinthesciencesyoucanbringingrants,resultinginhigher
output,whichmayputfacultyinCLASSatadisadvantage.Iftherewasroomfor
anotheraward,perhapsitshouldbefor“individualachievement”,whetherit'sa
book,performance,orothercreativeactivities.
Dr.Chintoldthecommitteehe’sgladtheywerehavingthisdiscussion.“Individual
achievement”isaninterestingconcept.WiththeExcellenceaward,therearea
disproportionatenumberofapplications.Forinstance,theBusinessCollegedidnot
havecandidates;theyandothercollegesshouldbeencouragedtoapplyandhelp
shouldbeavailabletopreparethematerials.
Dr.Solinosaidit’stoughforfacultytobeatthemercyofsomeonewritingagood
letter.Dr.Craigsuggestedhavingallthecollegeshaveanaward,andperhapsbuild
uptheletterwritingability.Dr.Solinomentionedhavingthedeansofresearchat
eachcollegereviewthelettersgoingout.
Dr.Solinoraisedthequestionofhowmanyyearsuntilawomanreceivesan
Excellenceaward.Shedoesn’tthinkthecommitteediscriminated,butknows
there’saperceptiononcampus.Partsoftheuniversity(colleges)thathavethemost
femaleresearchersdonothavemanyawards.
Dr.Haroldsaidthe“individualaward”maybethe“seed”foraddressingthisissuein
theupcomingyear.
Dr.Bosetoldthecommitteethathedoesn’twanttodilutetherecognitionofthe
ResearchandScholarshipaward.Hewantstokeepthecurrentawardandlookat
themetricsfortheseawards.Weneedmorecriteriaandevaluation,andshould
bringinpeoplefromoutsidetodeterminewaysthatcanbedone.Havingaseparate
categorywouldlooklikehavingtwodifferenttypesofawards.
Dr.Solinosuggestedaresearchbreakfasttorecognizeaccomplishmentsfromacross
campus.Dr.Boserespondedbysayingwewillcelebratescholarshipbroadlyatthe
nextbreakfastevent.
UHEnergyPresentation:Dr.HaroldintroducedDr.RamananKrishnamoortiwho
gaveapresentationonUHEnergy:
 EnergyInitiative:aplatformtointegrateUHwideeffortsandenableUHto
becomeastrategicpartneroftheenergyindustrybyprovidingtrained
workforce,strategicandtechnicalleadership,researchanddevelopment.
 FourStepProcess:1.)Getinthegame;2.)developcomprehensive
communicationsstrategy;3.)prioritizeareaswhereinstitutioncanbe
distinct;4.)buildoutselected“noregret”capabilities.
 UHEnergyAdvisoryBoard–created5yearsago.Canbedynamicgroup.
Volunteerboardmeets3timesayear.Supportedby4sub‐committees:
education,upstream,midstream,alternatives.AdvisoryBoardhas24
members.
 EnergyPillars:energyeducation,upstream,midstream,sustainability
alternatives&gridpower,energytechnologydevelopment
 EnergyEducation:newprograms–acceleratedBS‐MBAprogram;
Online/hybridenergycourses&curricula;energy&sustainabilityminor;
upstreamenergycertificateprogram.
 EnergyEducation:EnergyDay@UH–opportunitiesatthegraduateschool
andbeyond;collaborationbetweennewgraduateschool&UHenergy;was
heldonNovember23,2013;80graduatestudentsattendedall‐dayevent;
plantodevelopprogramforfall2014.
 HadSymposiumSeriesincollaborationwithNSM–criticalissuesinenergy;
4topicsdesignedtobedebates;Seriesfor2014‐2015:sponsoredby
Chevron.
 UH&HISDEnergyPrograms:HISD–EnergyInstituteHighSchool;HISD–
YoungWomen’sCollegePreparatoryAcademy;UHpartnership(UHgrad
studentstutoredmathstudentsatEIHS,summercampforjuniorsofEIHS,
dualcreditprograms?scholarships?,internships?)
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UpstreamStrengths:unconventionalresources,subseaengineering,
intelligentoilfields.
Developments:masterresearchagreementinplacewithAramcoServices,
ShellAmerica,BP,SABIC,etc;DevelopmentofSubseaSystemsInstitute
Midstream:CNGStationDevelopment
Alternateenergy&sustainability
EnergyandEnvironmentCenterforadvancedstudies
Electricpoweranalyticsconsortium
Questionsforthefuture:howdowemakeUHrelevant?Whatarewedoing
well?Whatshouldwefocuson?Whatismissing?
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Dr.LeetoldDr.KrishnamoortithattheRSCcanworkwithhimandhelphimwhen
needed.Dr.Krishnamoortirespondedbysayingtheyneedhelpwithmanythings
andwelcometheopportunitytospeakanytime.Theyarehappytoengagewiththe
committeeinamoreproductiveway.
Dr.HaroldsaiditwasgratifyingtoseeeverythinghappeningwithUHEnergy,
especiallysincetheUniversityaskedwhytheyweren’tdoingmorewithenergyin
thepast.
Centers&Institutes:Dr.FletcherwentthroughtheC&IreportthatDr.Zouridakis
providedforthecommitteetoreview.Thereportprovidedinformationonsix
items:
1. ReviewofTexasInstituteforMeasurement,Evaluation,andStatistics—TIMES
2. ReviewofTexasCenterforSuperconductivityattheUniversityofHouston—
TcSUH
3. FinalizedreviewofCenterForNuclearReceptorsandCellSignaling—CNRCS
4. Finalized review of National Center for Airborne Laser Mapping University
Center—NCALM
5. ReviewresponsestopreviousquestionsandfinalizereviewofCenterfor
AdvancedComputingandDataSystems—CACDS
6. ClassificationofadditionalCenters/Institutes
Dr.Fletcheraskedforthecommittee’sapprovaloftherecommendationsforCACDS.
Dr.Leemadethemotionforapproval,andDr.Romanseconded.The
recommendationsforCACDSpassed.
Dr.FletcherrecommendedapprovalforTcSUH.Dr.Leemadethemotion,andDr.
Haroldseconded.TcSUHwasapproved.
Dr.Fletcherrecusedhimselfforthecommittee’sreviewofTIMES.Dr.Long
mentionedthatsomeofthenumberswereconfusinginthereportandaskedfor
clarityonthenumbersforeverycenteraswellasadescriptionfortheexpectations.
Dr.BurnsstatedthatTIMESprovidesalotofservices,andperhapstheyshouldlist
themontheirwebsite.Dr.Haroldsaidhe’llrelaytheinformationtoTIMES.The
committeevotedontherecommendationsforTIMES.Therecommendations
passed.
ThereweretwooutstandingitemsforCenters&Institutes:NCALMandCNRCS.Dr.
Haroldsaidthesecentersraisetheissueofwhattheirexpectationsshouldbeasa
committeetomakeindependentrecommendationstotheVPR.
Dr.FletchersaidtheproblemwithCNRCSistheygenerated2setsofproposals:one
fortheRSCandoneforVP.Theyalsoshouldhavehadsignatures.Dr.Haroldsaid
theyneededcompletebudgetinformation.Thecommitteedecidedtheywouldnot
actonNCALMorCNRCSatthistime,andthetwocenterswouldcontinueaccording
totheircurrentstatus.
FeedbackonDOR:Dr.Haroldinformedthecommitteethatinformationhasbeen
collectedwithanexpectationofasurvey.Feedbackshouldbescientific,andtheRSC
needstoworkwithDORtocomeupwithasurveysoDORcanactaccordingly.Dr.
FletchersaidthathewouldencouragedepartmentstomeetwithDORtodiscussany
issues.HementionedPsychologyfacultymeetingwithDORstaffasanexample.
MeetingAdjournment:Dr.FletcherthankedDr.Haroldforhisserviceaschairofthe
RSC.Hesaidhehasdoneafantasticjob.Everyoneapplaudedinagreement
Themeetingwasadjournedat12:14pm.
TheRSCwillreconveneonFriday,September19from1:30–3:00pminthe
FacultySenateConferenceRoom.