Council of Research Associate Deans Notes
Thursday, August 24th, 2006
Hasselmo Hall, Room 6-101 – 1:30-3:00 PM
Attendees: Kerri Barrett, Donna Bliss, Lisa Carlson, Steve Carnes, Marilyn DeLong,
Lettie Ebbert, Bruce Erickson, John Fossum, Judy Garrard, Greg Germaine, Peggy
Johnson, Tom Klein, Frances Lawrenz, Charles Moldow, Tim Mulcahy, Faith Mrutu, Jim
Parente, Win Ann Schumi, Burt Stromberg, Peggy Sundermeyer, Huber Warner, Ed
Wink
Guests: John Engelen, George Green, Channing Riggs, and Ann Waltner
Introductions
Updates & Announcements
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A list of possible topics for the year was distributed for comments/additions.
Federal Relations update -- John Engelen and Channing Riggs
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The 2006 Congressional session is almost over. Congress is currently behind in
appropriations and might have to reconvene after the November elections.
Issues that Congress tried to reform with no success include patent reform
(changing first to discover to first to file), higher education, NIH funding,
renewable energy, and stem cell research. The American Competitiveness
Initiative, however, which focuses on improving math and science education, and
foreign language studies, is still being worked on.
This year, NSF has done reasonably well with funding but higher education (in
the form of financial aid cuts, for example) and perhaps NIH will lose funding.
Grant funding from the Department of Homeland Security might potentially
change with the addition of a maximum 3 year grant length stipulation. Hopeful
that this will not be implemented.
UMN will participate in the National Academies Convocation this year.
Farm bill will create $2 billion dollars in research funds next year. Grants will be
used to fund research in food and agriculture. This is an example of the recent
trend towards competition instead of formula funds. Will impact the present
funding of CFANS & Extension.
National Research Council Graduate Programs survey -- George
Green, Associate Dean of the Graduate School
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George Green is coordinating the National Research Council (NRC) assessment
of U.S. research-doctorate programs here at UMN. In total, seventy-five PhD
programs are participating.
Ratings and rankings are used for program evaluations of doctoral programs. The
assessment has been conducted every ten to twelve years only & can influence
future graduate applications, funding, etc. for a long time.
Questionnaire will be sent to doctoral programs to find out how many students are
enrolled, how many students graduate, get Masters Degrees, etc.
Some information The Graduate School can report centrally, but there are
important components that are only available form the departments, such as
o Affiliation with graduate programs (doesn’t align to department)
o Number of doctoral committees
Faculty questionnaire will open in October 2006. NRC website allows faculty to
electronically complete questionnaire.
George is available to meet with departments to talk about the NRC assessment.
The survey allows faculty to report primary and secondary fields that they work
in. One of the options that can be included is “Emerging Fields” like
nanotechnology. Emerging fields would not be ranked and rated at this point, but
it is important to report activity being conducted in these fields.
Deans should look at the lists George distributed and get corrections back to him
within a few days, since he is unsure if changes will be accepted after the initial
deadline.
NRC published a book that addressed their methods and metrics for the
evaluation. Their website also contains some information:
http://www7.nationalacademies.org/resdoc/index.html
Institute of Advanced Study -- Ann Waltner
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The Institute for Advanced Study is currently in its second year and promotes
interdisciplinarity. The Institute provides faculty research fellowships that are a
semester long. The costs of the fellowships are divided between the Institute and
the faculty member’s home department.
Nineteen fellowships are available next year.
Faculty members are encouraged to apply in groups. Collaborative groups could
work together; office space is available in Nolte Center.
The Institute also sponsors many events like Thursdays at Four which are open to
University and non-University attendees.
The IAS website is http://ias.umn.edu/
NIH reduction of number of appendices
(request for comments previously circulated)
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Both positive and negative responses have been received, but only a few.
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Members are encouraged to send comments directly to NIH as well as to forward
copies to the OVPR who will consolidate and prepare a UMN response. At this
point, OVPR will not try to develop a consensus position, but will raise all
concerns from multiple perspectives, for instance, reviewer vs applicant.
OVPR will send an email reminder. Comments are due to NIH 9/14/06.
Other issues
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PI Eligibility in particular was discussed at the meeting with many members
questioning the changes and how they will affect operations in departments.
Next meeting: Sept. 21st, 2006 – 1:30-3:00pm – Hasselmo Hall Rm. 4-101