OBJECTIVE

INITIATIVES/ACTIONS

QUESTIONS

1.     What are the elements of a research and scholarship facilities master plan through 2020?

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(Goal I, III, and IV)

• Update research space standards consistent with national best practices.
• Conduct research space utilization study applying best practice space standards.
• Update research space needs estimate in the UB Facilities Master Plan.
• Develop state-of-the-art safety standards for all types of research facilities. 
• Create a plan that meets research space needs:
  • Space reallocation
  • Renovation, if necessary
  • New buildings, if necessary
  • Partnership facilities, if possible
  • Safety needs

• How can UB maximize the productivity of our available and planned research space?
• What role can private partners play in helping UB build, renovate or have access to research facilities? 

2.     How can UB upgrade research grants management infrastructures to national best practice standards?

(Goals I, III, and IV)

• Create a support infrastructure devoted to the identification of and response to opportunities for large, multidisciplinary, national center grant awards as well as single grant awards.
• Implement a best practice clinical trials grants management infrastructure.
• Establish best practice processes for compliance with federal and state regulations.

• What is the best organizational structure to achieve this objective?
• What is the appropriate funding model to create and operate these infrastructures? 

3.     Should UB create an organization to support arts/humanities scholarship?

(Goal I)

• Inventory the current limitations in scholarship support across arts and humanities discipline.
• Create a staffing and support funding plan for the center.
• Upgrade library resources and staffing to support an expanding arts and humanities scholarship agenda.
• Identify all possible grant and foundation programs that support arts and humanities scholarship and connect faculty interests with these funding opportunities.
  

• What is the most effective organizational placement for this program?
• How do we expand access to external sources of support for arts and humanities scholarship?

4.     Should UB institute a more central model for the management of core instrumentation facilities and research computing infrastructures

(Goal I)

• Inventory core instrument facilities across the university.
• Create a business plan and staffing structure for an organization that can meet current and planned core instrument needs.
• Implement policies governing mechanisms that enable the purchase of instrument cores
• Prior approval of instrument purchases
• An integration of faculty start-up negotiations involving major computing and instrumentation and the central instrumentation business plan

• What is the most effective organizational placement of this function?
• What are the cost/benefit trade-offs of a more centralized model?
• Can start-up costs be reduced in the aggregate with the implementation of this approach?

5.     How should UB restructure financial policies for research activity to create greater impact and fund research support costs?

(Goals I, III, and IV)

• Conduct policy inventory and cost-benefit analysis of current practices.
• Consider policy changes or developments in the following areas:
  • Seed funding program
  • Matching funding program
  • New start-up business and product development fund
  • Indirect cost recovery distribution policy
  • Salary recovery policy
  • Animal facility per diem rates
  • Faculty salary supplementation for research performance
  • Start-up matching funds program
  • Course buyout policies
  • Faculty travel funds
  • Conferences, symposia

• Should UB utilize faculty salary and indirect cost recovery funds to reward and incentivize research outcomes or cover the costs of research infrastructures?
• What should be the central and unit responsibilities for funding research costs and research incentives?

6.     What would be effective guidelines for the management of research centers and institutes?

(Goals I, III)

• Inventory all existing centers and institutes:
  • Size and representation
  • Funding structure
  • Longevity
  • Future plans
  • Management challenges
• Survey AAU universities to learn of best practices across the country for centers/institute management.
• Create new policy guidelines that establish standards for achieving center designation, establishes sunset clauses and financial/funding policies associated with their establishment and operation.

• Should UB greatly reduce the number of recognized centers and institutes?
• What is the role of the center/institute in the new theme-based academic strategy?

7.     Should UB create a research and scholarship recognition infrastructure?

(Goals I, III, IV)

• Create a staffing and support budget plan.
• Inventory all research award programs and develop a matrix that matches faculty candidates for award programs with award and other recognition opportunities.

• How will this program be responsive to all disciplines?

8.     What changes in organization funding, staffing and expertise are required to increase UB visibility as a thought leader in priority research fields?

(Goals I, III, IV)

• Conduct assessment on strengths and weaknesses of current efforts and best opportunities for visibility enhancement.
• Identify lessons for improvement from a review of national best practices. (e.g. faculty on national committees and with productive relationships with national think tank organizations)
• Develop investment, organizational, and staffing recommendations based on these reviews.

• What forms of expertise are required for UB to identify and capitalize on opportunities for sponsorship across the disciplines and assert a greater leadership role in establishing the national research agenda?