Do You Know When to Say No to
Industrial Collaborations?
Verna M. Fitzsimmons, Ph.D.
Michael L. Dragomier, M.A.
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VFitz & MDrag
The Question…
Should we take on this particular project?
2
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VFitz & MDrag
Internal Situation…
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Decreasing state funding
Limits on tuition increase
Increasing demand on faculty to find external
sources of funding to support the programs
Increasing teaching loads/reduced load
release for research except by “buying time”
Our ET and T programs emphasizes
“Learning by Doing”
Equipment/capital intensive
.
VFitz & MDrag
Obvious Solution…

Look to external funding
–
–
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Grants – federal, state, regional development
Industry funded collaborations and partnerships
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VFitz & MDrag
External Situation…
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Domestic and global competition is
pressuring local manufacturers (Loss of local
manufacturing jobs)
Companies are working and producing more
with less people
Workers are expected to do more with less
Decreasing funding for R&D
.
VFitz & MDrag
Role Reversal…

Small to mid size local industries are looking
to universities to help solve their problems
–
–
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Faculty expertise
Student assistance
Lab and equipment use
.
VFitz & MDrag
The Real Issue for AS&T
Faculty and Administration…
Should we accept the project or not?
There is the tendency to say yes to almost
anything that resembles a fit.
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Identifying Needs that Fit Both
Industry
Needs
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Academia
Needs
.
VFitz & MDrag
Figure 2: Initial De cision M ode l
Request is made
Not e 1: T he universit y
has it s own const raint s.
Yes
Does request
align w ith
university? (1)
Not e 2: Current mission and
goals. A current course. Fut ure
plans. Duplicat ion wit h anot her
depart ment /unit .
Yes
Does request
align w ith
department? (2)
Is expertise
available? (3)
Say NO
No
No
Not e 3:Current . Fut ure.
Out source. Brokered.
Is there
commitment to
develop expertise?
No
No
Yes
Yes
Not e 4:Facult y t ime.
Scheduling t ime.
Yes
Is time
available? (4)
No
Not e 5: Money.
Mat erials.
Equipment . Space.
Yes
Are additional
resources
required? (5)
Can additional
resources be
acquired? (6)
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No
Not e 6: Request er
provided. Out source.
Say YES
Yes
No
.
VFitz & MDrag
So what…
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Provides a guide for faculty and
administration leading to consistent decisions
Initial go/no go decisions can be made
quickly and with confidence
Transparency in the decision process
Provides documentation of our process
Forces thoughtful planning
.
VFitz & MDrag
Now what…
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We are using and evaluating this process
Faculty and administration will review
process at the end of a year to determine if
there is enough value to continue
If there is value, we will consider extending
the process
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VFitz & MDrag