Performance indicators and target outcomes
Eligible
expenditure
category
1)Research
facilities
Outcomes reported at year end
Institutional performance objective
Indicator
Output
Funding from the Research Support Fund assists in supporting research facilities at Memorial University in renovations, maintenance, upgrades, etc. The following sections provide examples of how funding in this category
will be utilized in Fiscal Year 2015-16. The examples below detail commitments of the Information Technology Services; Animal Care; Facilities Management; Academic Units and Grenfell.
-Provide significant capacity and availability of
network connectivity internally and globally via R&E
networks including CANARIE and ACORN-NL.
-Availability of ACEnet facilities as a research tool.
-Traffic volumes internally and externally. Request for
new/increased connectivity. New environment builds.
-Volume of users of ACEnet.
-Investment in infrastructure and resources assigned to
carry out work.
-Investment in ACEnet.
-Statistics on system traffic.
-Statistics on Network Uptime and availability.
-Adequate power and environmentals in the ITS data
center to support ACEnet infrastructure.
- Number of FTE’s supporting ACEnet hardware.
- Report on CANARIE network utilization.
- Statistics on CANARIE network uptime.
- Traffic volumes for CANARIE research data.
- Statistics on power and environmental usage in the
ITS data center.
-Number of new client requests to access ACORN-NL.
-Repair of research equipment and the maintenance
of research facilities. Renovation of space to
accommodate additional Grants Facilitation Officer.
-Equipment that is in usable condition and facilities
that operate to support research.
-Productive research activity and additional office space.
-Space available to support research activity.
-Final installation of BERI labs, growth chambers.
-Acquisition of greenhouse space and farmland.
-Ongoing science lab renovations and social science
space.
-Space for graduate students.
-Increase the availability of research space by sharing
access across throughout the institution.
-Award of tenders for research infrastructure.
-BERI labs and growth chambers operational.
-Access acquired to greenhouse and experimental
farmland.
-Graduate students using renovated space.
-Number of BERI projects/lab utilization stats.
-Number of social science studies using space.
-Graduate student space utilization.
-Number of shared research space made available
throughout the institution.
-Categorizing research space as 'Shared'.
-Number of requests made for the shared research
space on campus.
-Renovation of laboratory to consolidate and
optimize research space and activities of faculty
members (Dr. Guang Sun and Dr. Wayne Gulliver).
-Provide secure on site access at MUN to Canadian
Statistical Data.
-Renovations needed to laboratory space.
- Contributions of funds by FoM to MUN's operation
of Research Data Centre - Statistics Canada.
-More suitable and efficient space for research and the
training of highly qualified personnel.
- Functional Research Data Centre at MUN.
-More optimized use of space by renovation.
- Use of Statistics Canada Research Data Centre by
researchers and highly qualified personnel from FoM.
-Maintain suitable laboratory for graduate students.
-Reduce lab downtime.
-Maintain graduate student track.
-Portion of Research Support Fund utilized to bridge the
operation of the lab between grants.
-Continued operation of lab with minimal disruption
to grad student progress.
To provide improvements in air quality,
biocontainment and bioexclusion through the
purchase and maintenance of additional individually
ventilated caging (IVC's) for mice and rats; for
biosafety cabinets; and for mobile change stations.
To evaluate operating costs including utilities,
security and custodial assistance of the animal
facilities through a review of two shared services
agreements.
Maintain stable reliable temperature regulated
operating environment for research equipment.
The number of rooms with air quality improvements.
To have all rodents housed in IVC's and all rodent rooms
equipped with either a Biosafety cabinet or a mobile
change station.
To purchase and put into operation the equipment
noted in FY 2015-16.
The percentage of costs allocated to Animal Care
Services in comparison to other units.
A portion of the Research Support Fund is allocated to
ongoing operations and maintenance apart from that
required to meet regulatory requirements. The goal is to
reduce the overall line item.
Research productivity.
A revised Shared Services agreement or a reduced
overall line item for FY 2015-16.
Equipment downtime; service calls.
Downtime/service calls compared to previous year.
2)Research
Resources
Funding from the Research Support Fund assists in supporting research resources at Memorial University in library holdings, library operation costs & administration, etc. The following sections provide examples of how
funding in this category will be utilized in Fiscal Year 2015-16. The examples below detail commitments of the Library; Information Technology Services; Animal Care; Academic Units and Grenfell.
-Provide Research data backup.
-Volume of data backed up.
-Investment in research data storage and Backup.
-Numbers of research clients using ITS backup
-Availability of Research data storage .
-Volume (Terabytes) of research storage used.
-ITS security audit results.
services.
-Security of Research data stored on ITS secure
-ITS compliance audit on access to research data
-Volume of research data stored on ITS servers.
servers.
stored on ITS secure servers.
-Number of security audits completed.
-Create 'fast track to research' as a mechanism for
-Collaboration faculty, funders and industry.
-Fast track to Research Established.
-Number of new submitted research applications.
connecting researchers, funders and industry.
-Number of new graduate programs.
-Graduate programs proposals.
-Number of new graduate programs offered.
-Prioritize thesis-based graduate and doctoral
programs.
-Increase the availability to research equipment by
-Amount of equipment listed in the database
-Catalogue research equipment available for shared
-Number of requests made for access to shared
cataloguing and creating a database of shared
available for shared access.
access.
research resources.
resources.
-To acquire tools, supplies, and documentation
needed to create new research results through 3D
and other specialized visualization equipment.
-Partial support for the operations of Memorial's
Statistics Canada Research Data Centre.
3)Management
and
administration
of an
institution’s
research
enterprise
-Usage rate of 3D printers and other equipment to
fulfill research objectives.
-# objects created for what purposes; # feedback
mechanisms; # digital objects; etc.
-Memorial's Statistics Canada Research Data Centre
continues to operate.
-Increased levels of research activity utilizing StatCan RDC
data and facilities.
-Impact of using these tools and supplies to create
new research results and how the research is
relevant.
-Number of Arts faculty and graduate students
accessing the StatCan RDC's services.
To improve communications and turnaround time
The number of messages sent to researchers
A portion of the Research Support goes to the purchase
The improvement in turnaround time to resolution of
between researchers and Animal Care staff through
regarding animal health issues, and the turnaround
and plan costs for telecommunications equipment.
animal health issues in comparison to using other
the improved use of cell phone technology.
time to resolution.
means of communication.
Funding from the Research Support Fund assists in supporting management and administration costs relating to Memorial University's research enterprise. The following sections provide examples of how funding in this
category will be utilized in Fiscal Year 2015-16. The examples below detail commitments of the Office of the Vice-President (Research); Information Technology Services; Animal Care; CREAIT, CFI and CRC Services; Research
Grant and Contract Services; Technical Services; Academic Units; Eastern Regional Health Authority and Grenfell.
(Example - Increase the volume of grants and awards
(Number of grants and awards applications processed (Portion of Research Support Fund grant invested in new
(Number of grants and awards applications processed
applications processed by upgrading the institution’s
in FY 2015-16)
electronic system)
in FY 2015-16 as compared to 2014-15, resulting in
electronic information system)
"an 'X'" % increase)
-Staffing hours in support of Research Data Backup.
-Percentage of FTE time managing research data
-Adequately managed research data backup
-Number of ITS FTE hours managing backup and
-Staff hours in support of Research Specific Network
backups managed by ITS.
environment.
network environments for research specific purposes.
Administration.
-Percentage of FTE time managing research networks -Network availability for research activities.
managed by ITS.
-Achieving effectiveness and efficiencies in research
-Research grant and contract facilitation - ensuring
-Funding from the Research Support Fund was provided
-Annual reporting will be done on metrics associated
grant and contract facilitation at Memorial University. grant facilitation is available to every school, faculty
by the Vice-President (Research) to cost-share salaries of
with SRIP.
-Development and execution of Memorial University's and campus through a coordinated network between grants facilitators in the academic units. A further
Strategic Research Intensity Plan (SRIP) 2014-2020.
staff within the academic units and the research
investment in Research Grant and Contract Services to
support staff within the units under the Viceensure adequate staffing of those responsible for grant
President (Research) portfolio.
administration.
-Various metrics have been developed for SRIP which
-A portion of the Research Support Fund assists with the
will measure the Plan's success and provide targets
operational costs of the Vice-President (Research) office
for intended outcomes.
for costs associated with the Plan's production
(generation and promotion) and implementation (salary
costs) of those in support of the research enterprise.
-Ensure ongoing operation of sophisticated network
of research instruments and equipment using highly
skilled, technical staff in support of research output
and strategic research outcomes across Memorial.
-Number of FTE's dedicated to instrument and
equipment operation. Number of analyses
performed and research projects impacted. Number
of contributions to research publications.
-Portion of RSF directed to management and
administration of core research equipment and
instrument training network. Minimization of cost for
analytical laboratory services in support of research
oriented teaching, training and project deliverables.
Maximization of contribution to research via access to
highly skilled, scientific laboratory expertise.
-Portion of Research Support Fund grant invested in the
cost of in-house and legal reviews.
-Contribution to efficiency and effectiveness of
Memorial's Strategic Research Intensity Plan.
Competitive year over year cost for comparable
laboratory services.
-Increase the internal processing and legal reviews of
grants and awards using in-house administrative and
legal staff.
-Enhance processing and internal approval of grants
and awards by upgrading the institution’s electronic
information system through implementation of a
researcher portal.
-Certification of Fume Hoods and Biological safety
cabinets. Operating Cryogenics facility. Maintaining
OSC refrigeration system. Maintaining laboratory
equipment. Fabricating custom apparatus.
-Number of grants and awards applications processed
in FY 2015-16.
-Ease of use by researchers & administrators and
improve transparency for processing.
-Feedback from users and processing metrics.
-Service improvement and service metrics
improvement.
-Fume hoods and biological safety cabinets fully
certified. Reliable supply of cryogens, laboratory
equipment maintained.
-Equipment up-time maintained.
-Client satisfaction > 90%.
-Increase the volume of grants and awards
applications reviewed by hiring additional Grants
Facilitation Officer. Also, travel to applicable
conferences for Grants Facilitation Officer.
-Decreased time to review grants and contracts and
increased success rate for applications.
-External research support provided to the institution.
-Increased research capacity as evidenced by peer
reviewed publications and communications, and the
training of highly qualified personnel.
-Increase volume of grants and award applications
Increase profile of Grenfell Research Office.
-Enhance Research, marketing, communications and
support for student research.
-Develop Collaborations and Research Engagement.
-Number of grants and awards applications processed
Establish Research Chairs and dialogue on
collaborations, networking and engagement.
-Research Support Fund to support more grants-writing
workshops for faculty.
-Print and social media highlighting researchers.
- Research Chair applications, networking and
engagement events.
-Support for completion of grant applications.
-Support for research enterprise.
-Grant facilitation for faculty members and highly
qualified personnel.
-Human resources for purchase of research related
expendables.
-Professional satisfaction.
-Assistance with completion of grant applications and
proposals.
-Placement of orders from researchers for laboratory
material.
-Portion of Research Support Fund utilized to send Grants
Facilitator to CARA conference for professional
development.
-Grant applications.
-Number of grants and awards applications
processed.
Number of printed documents and social media
releases.
-Number of research chairs, networking and
engagement events.
-Submission of grant application to funding agencies.
-Assistance provided to all researchers in the Faculty
of Medicine in need of purchasing research related
expendables.
-Established networks at other universities and
increased satisfaction (Difficult to measure).
-Increase the professional knowledge of the Grants
Facilitator.
-Increase the number and quality of grant
applications submitted by Arts faculty; achieved
partially through the use of a Grants Facilitator (salary
support from this fund).
-Number of grants applications processed in FY 201516; increased grant application success rates
To improve operational, clinical and financial
management through the acquisition of an
information management software that will integrate
financial billing with daily animal care operations and
records.
Access for researchers and Animal Care personnel to
operational, clinical and financial records through a
secure portal.
A portion of the Research Support Fund will go toward
the purchase and maintenance of the software system.
-Number of grants and awards applications processed
in FY 2015-16 as compared to 2014-15.
-Increased number of grant applications submitted by
Arts faculty (comparison of 2014-15 and 2015-16
totals); increased success rate for grant applications
submitted by Arts faculty (comparison of 2014-15 and
2015-16 rates).
Request for Proposals to be released in FY 2015-16.
4)Regulatory
requirements
and
accreditation
Funding from the Research Support Fund assists in supporting regulatory requirements and accreditation at Memorial University. The following sections provide examples of how funding in this category will be utilized in
Fiscal Year 2015-16. The examples below detail commitments of the Office of the Vice-President (Research); Animal Care; Academic Units and Grenfell.
-The university strives to ensure that those
conducting research involving human participants
achieve a proper balance between respect for the
dignity and welfare of the participants on the one
hand and the need for advancement of knowledge on
the other. The Interdisciplinary Committee on Ethics
in Human Research (ICEHR) Office ensures such
research proposals are reviewed thoroughly and in a
timely fashion.
-Fume hood inspection fees and biological safety
cabinet certification fees.
-Researcher satisfaction with ICEHR service;
institutional compliance in terms of
ethics/compliance regulations.
-Portion of Research Support Fund grant in support of
ICEHR staff salaries and operations.
-Researcher satisfaction with overall customer service
and review processes in place; the number of
research proposals reviewed annually.
-Passing of annual inspections.
-Creating a safe working environment appropriate to the
work being conducted.
-Ongoing support for Grenfell Campus Research
Ethics Board (GCREB).
-Maintain functionality of lab space and ensure
adherence to regulations.
-Number of applications to GCREB for new and
renewal of clearances.
-Reduction maintenance calls.
-Reduction downtime of equipment.
-GCREB outputs.
-Safety record that reflects the safe working
environment and compliance with federal
regulations.
-Number of applications and renewals for clearances
processed increased by GCREB.
-Maintained compliance with OHS and other
regulatory standards.
-B support for SafetyNet operations; SafetyNet is
integral to the operations of the On the Move
Partnership Grant.
-SafetyNet continues to operate.
To commence the Design-Development phase for the
capital improvement of the Health Sciences Center
replacement animal facility in order to meet
accreditation standards.
Improve the support to the Institutional Animal Care
Committee by revising and upgrading the role Animal
Care Committee Coordinator.
Board of Regents to assess and approve the proposal
and preferred bid.
A portion of the Research Support Fund is allocated to
maintaining infrastructure to meet regulatory
requirements and accreditation.
Work with Human Resources to create a revised job
description with a scientific background as
prerequisite.
A portion of the Research Support Fund is allocated to
this role and function.
-Portion of Research Support Fund grant utilized to meet
regulatory requirements: Annual inspection of fume
hoods, fire extinguishers, lab telephones, ad hoc
maintenance to ensure efficient operating of shared
research equipment.
-Increased research collaboration in the strategic area of
social sciences research on health and safety.
Number of SafetyNet researchers participating in 2nd
round of CFREF proposal; Number of graduate
students supported within SafetyNet; Number of
faculty benefitting from support within SafetyNet.
Design-Development phase to be approved and
underway in FY 2015-16.
To hire into the revised position in 2015.
5)Intellectual
property
Funding from the Research Support Fund assists in supporting intellectual property at Memorial University. The following sections provide examples of how funding in this category will be utilized in Fiscal Year 2015-16. The
examples below detail commitments of the Library; Innovation Office; Academic Units and Grenfell.
-Maintain and sustain an office of licensing and IP
-Staffing level.
- # of FTE's
- 4FTEs
Professionals who are responsible for technology
-Execution of new licence agreements.
- # of licence agreements executed
- 2 new licence agreements
transfer and industry liaison.
-Creation of new spin-off companies.
- # of spin-off companies created
- 2 new spin-off companies
-Successfully commercialize university technologies.
-Support provided to existing spin-offs.
- # of existing Spin-off companies supported
- 2 existing spin-offs supported
-Support and create spin-off companies utilizing
university technologies.
-Develop and deliver workshops targeted to faculty
-Number of workshops.
-Research funding to support workshops.
-Number of participants attending workshops.
on Intellectual Property.
-Increase the number of publications, articles, etc.
-Number of graduate students, collaborations,
-Expansion of Research Database to include listings of
-Number of publications, articles produced per
research grants etc. per faculty member.
publications, articles etc. per faculty member.
faculty.
-To create and disseminate xx research results
-# of Open Access articles published that meet Tri-Data storage of results to allow for reuse of data in the
-Dissemination and impact results i.e. # sale of books;
through approved scholarly vehicles (e.g. articles,
Council funding requirements
future; press releases announcing significant
# of OA articles; # other articles; # citations and reuse
books, poster presentations, performances, etc.)
-# of new monographs published by library or ISER
accomplishments.
of research results.
Books.