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New Mexico State University URC Minutes - December 5, 2003

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Present: Becky Keele, Brenda Benefit, Steve Helmreich (James Cowie), Ida Baca (Everett Egginton), Inigo Garcia-Bryce, Richard Hills, Shaun Cooper (Michael Hites), Nirmala Khandan, Chuck Kozel, Linda Lacey, Kevin McIlvoy, Bernard McNamara, Enrico Pontelli, Rudi Schoenmackers, Edmund Scribner, Elizabeth Titus, Karl Wood

Absent: Barbara Coppola, Lisa Dalton, Wynn Egginton, Dean Hawkins, Stephen Horan, Ken Martin, Martha Mitchell, Marc Pruyn, Ronda Skaggs, Rasler Smith

1. Minutes - Minutes for November 7, 2003 were approved as presented.

2. Presentation on Engineering Research and Development

Rudi Schoenmackers gave a presentation on the Engineering Department’s R & D
for 2002-03. During this period, Engineering submitted 173 proposals and received funding for 184 new and extended contracts. Schoenmackers also noted that collaborative efforts with other colleges at NMSU and with other universities have increased, and that engineering research expenditures are close to $14,000,000 per year.

3. Discussion on Potential National Speakers

Bringing a national speaker to campus was discussed including possible funding sources. It was suggested a committee would be helpful in support of this effort. Bernie McNamara, Kevin McIIvoy, and Becky Keele volunteered to serve on this subcommittee.

4. Training Course Concern for Researchers

Bernard McNamara discussed positive ways to approach mandatory training for research staff. It was agreed that the course offered by the Office of Grants and Contracts provides beneficial information that allows researchers and the university as a whole to stay within federal guidelines concerning the submission of grants and contracts. Rich Hills clarified that if a training session was missed, another would be available the following semester with everyone having been trained within one year.

5. Research Growth Evaluation

It was recommended that the Office of the Vice Provost for Research charge the Deans with nominating two people to serve on a committee that would look at the NSF rankings to ensure a fair assessment of the problems and to suggest what NMSU can do to promote research growth.

The meeting adjourned at 4:40p.m. The Executive Committee met following the regular meeting.

Minutes by Frances Schumacher