---

New Mexico State University URC Minutes - September 29, 2000

---

Present: Tim Pettibone, Jim Strickland, Skipper Botsford, Kristine Derer, Naida Zucker, Mark St. Paul (Dave Rocks), Shaun McQuitty, Karl Wood, Bill Gould, Margaret Jacobs, Stephen Horan, Elizabeth Titus, Becky Keele-Smith, William Ogden, Gary Cunningham, Tracy Sterling.

1. Introductions:

Tracy Sterling is acting chair while Dr. Khandan is on sabbatical this semester. He will resume his duties as president when he returns in January. Tracy announced this year's officers and then asked URC members to introduce themselves. She noted that URC represents the faculty of all college units and is charged to be a policy recommending group whose focus is to make research and scholarly activity topnotch at NMSU. URC is also an advisory committee to present information/ideas to appropriate administration and to CORC. As a member of CORC, Tracy will inform URC of updates and important issues discussed at their meetings.

2. Announcements:

Upcoming meetings of interest for URC: Oct. 4 -- CASTE meeting at CC; October 12 -- CORC Strategic Planning Retreat (Tracy will attend); Oct. 19 -- NASA teleconference. Tim Pettibone announced that the Graduate School Fair is October 4.

3. April 28, 2000 Minutes: distributed and approved as presented.

4. 1999-2000 Subcommittee reports:

Role of URC Subcommittee: (Purpose -- to determine how URC can better serve the university.) The committee did not meet this summer but will try to meet before the Oct. meeting to review the survey results and identify where URC should take an active role. The committee should consider putting together a model for rewarding quality, creative research similar to the teaching awards given by NMSU.

Collaborative Projects Subcommittee: Tim Pettibone reviewed the final report presented April 28. It was recommended that URC continue to review faculty/staff currently involved in collaborative research on campus. Elizabeth Titus mentioned other institutions which display faculty research through university-wide poster sessions to encourage faculty to learn about the research of their peers. Recognition of outstanding researchers is promoted. Bill Gould complimented NMSU's Statistics Consulting Service which is not available at many universities. It was also noted that a publication listing faculty research would be good publicity for the university and faculty. University Communications is a prime source of support and outreach. Jim Strickland, Steve Horan and Becky Keele-Smith will serve as a committee to develop an Interdisciplinary Research Fair for Fall 2001. Funding needs will be supported by the V.P. for Research.

Gary Cunningham reported on strategic planning agendas: NMSU is involved with other NM universities to develop a planning guide for EPSCoR funding for projects where 3-5 statewide research efforts will be identified. The Equipment Committee will determine major equipment needs and methods to obtain them. Hason Scott (NM Department of Development) is working to develop a Southern NM Space Port. CASTE was formed to create a common interest for collaboration which could generate funding from various sources.

5. 2000-2001 Subcommittee Establishment:

V.P. for Research Web Site -- Sue Bonar has been hired to construct the web site which will 1) provide resources for faculty to develop grant proposals and find sponsors; 2) provide resources for contract administrators who help with writing and negotiating contracts and 3) establish a base for research to give the general public an idea of what we do. Sue may attend a future URC meeting to give a preview of the site and solicit suggestions for its contents.

Research Endowments - The Equipment Committee is seeking a $20 million research endowment. Fund raising is already done at the college level; a "campus wide" effort is needed to solicit outside funding for items not included in college "wish lists." CASTE is a possible funding opportunity for a corporate sponsor. The Research Directors will meet to formulate ideas. Suggestions are welcome and V.P. Cunningham will report on their findings at a later date. The Foundation could be asked to present a program on endowments and donor criteria.

6. Additional Topics for Discussion:

Indirect Cost Structure: Last year V.P. Cunningham informed URC of the indirect cost recovery structure from his office to each college and of the cost recovery structure from the colleges. CAS issues are still complicating research efforts. Suggestion - a portion of the indirect cost could be returned to the PI to deal with the CAS issues directly since a major complaint is writing justifications for simple purchases. Most issues still need to be addressed at the college level.

Account Printouts: Efforts are being made to correct the problem of reading printouts. A suggestion was made that FRS and HRMS need to be designed from the research office perspective.

Future Presentations: Richard Hills, Oct. 27 - Equipment Committee
Charles Townley, Nov. 17 - Knowledge Management Data Base
President Gogue, Feb. 23

The next meeting will be held on October 27, 2000 in the Zuhl Library Associates Room, 2nd floor at 3:30 p.m.

The meeting adjourned at 5:00 p.m.

Minutes by Betty Lindsey