The University Senate of Michigan Technological University


PROPOSAL 3-97

ESTABLISHMENT OF THE MTU RESEARCH FOUNDATION

Michigan Technological University should create the MTU Research Foundation; all university research and related research activity will be conducted under this single administrative structure.

Recommendations:

1. The Foundation should be governed by a Board of Directors; the voting membership of the Board should consist of:

  • the President, who shall serve as Chair;
  • the Executive Vice President and Provost;
  • the Vice Provost for Research, who shall also serve as Executive Director of the Foundation;
  • the Deans of Engineering, Sciences and Arts, and Forestry and Wood Products;
  • two Department Chairs, one from the College of Engineering and one from the College of Sciences and Arts, who shall be chosen by their peers within their college for staggered 2-year terms with the possibility of serving consecutive terms;
  • three academic faculty, one each from the College of Engineering, the College of Sciences and Arts, and the School of Forestry and Wood Products, elected by the faculties of the respective units for staggered 3-year terms with the possibility of serving consecutive terms (the President shall determine which of the elected faculty representatives shall serve initial 2, 3, and 4-year terms; subsequent terms shall be for 3 years); and
  • two Research Institute Directors, chosen by their peers from among the research institutes that are not administratively within academic units for 2-year staggered terms, with the possibility of serving consecutive terms.

In addition, the Chief Financial Officer, Senior Vice President for Advancement and University Relations, Vice President for Governmental Relations, and the President of the Senate (or designated representative) shall serve as non-voting members of the Board.

2. The Board should be responsible for research policy in consultation with appropriate individuals, organizations, and units; significant new policies or policy changes shall be forwarded to the Senate for approval or recommendation prior to their implementation. The Board should provide a unified forum for the timely resolution of significant policy issues. In its deliberations, the Board should keep the interests and concerns of individual researchers among its highest priorities. All policies implemented by the Board should seek to improve research quality and productivity.

3. The Board should be responsible for the internally-allocated research budget.

4. The Board should meet at least quarterly in open meetings with published agendas and minutes; each meeting agenda shall contain a time period for public comment or input.

5. Within the first year after the creation of the Foundation, the following issues should be resolved by the Board, in consultation with other appropriate individuals, organizations, and units:

  • measures to increase visibility and promote university research activity;
  • the appropriate reporting structure and functioning of research support activities (Research Services, Research Accounting, Intellectual Property Office, proposal budget review, Conflict of Interest review, etc.);
  • the appropriate reporting structure for all Centers and Institutes;
  • measures to foster interdisciplinary research and to reward the combination of excellence in teaching and research;
  • the appropriate distribution of indirect cost recovery funds and other discretionary funds; and
  • measures to implement other action items in the President's Research Task Force Report of March 1996.

6. At least once a year, the Board shall publish a report which summarizes university research activities, including at least the following:

  • major research accomplishments;
  • research funding;
  • the collection and distribution of indirect cost recovery and other discretionary funds;
  • other significant activities of the Foundation and the university research community; and
  • a summary of the MTU research environment.

Proposal rejected by Senate: February 5, 1997