Strategic Research Planthe power of strategy + action

Results from Breakout Sessions

Research Retreat12 February 2010

Terri L. LomaxVice Chancellor for Research

and Graduate Studies

New growth. On day 1 of the retreat. . .

Editorial Recommendations

1) Edit for brevity & impact (CONSOLIDATE)

2) Don’t confuse “Objectives” with “Action Items” and/or “Metrics”

3) Mindful of Strategic Plan vs. Implementation Plan

4) Remove jargon; straight talk

5) Preamble recommended. Address inclusion of traditional disciplines as well as multidisciplinary

Content Recommendations

Recurring themes/recommendations:

1) Need for first-class facilities & instrumentation: understand what we have, where we have it, and

what we need.

2) Cluster hires/talent procurement: create advisory committees to help (roster should include

internationally known researchers)

3) Need for unrestricted/flexible funding. Work with Development & Foundation Relations on this.

Content Recommendations

Recurring themes/recommendations:

4) Create a culture of partnerships: show what the value is of multidisciplinary research for everyone

involved.

5) Proactively nominate researchers for international awards. Make the nomination process available

online.

Content Recommendations

High-level content recommendations:

1) Align the Research Strategic Plan with other university plans (economic development, teaching & extension, etc.)

While ours is specific to research it should compliment and fit with other plans.

2) Include values such as creativity & scholarship rather than a dollar-driven tone.

3) Illustrate NC State’s mission to respond to critical societal needs in our plan.

Content Recommendations

4) Include “faculty, staff and students” throughout plan, rather than “faculty & grad students”

5) When referring to rewarding faculty activities that are ‘above and beyond,’ instead of using “incentive,” use

another phrase (e.g. support & encourage)

6) Shore up our traditional strengths while entering into new areas of research

7) Bring existing traditional research areas together to create new strengths

Content Recommendations

Specific content recommendations:

1) Sunset clause: Address the timeline of the Strategic Plan. (e.g. review every 5 years)

2) Incentives to keep undergrads on campus as graduate students

3) In order to increase Federal funding, work directly with program officers to create funding opportunities.

Align SRAs with agency SRAs. Discussion about “capture teams.”

Content Recommendations

4) Since DOD is becoming export-controlled, create system secure areas

5) To increase memberships, encourage University higher-administration to contact agency higher-

administration

6) To attract grad students: Fellowships at the institutional level

7) Replace position on campus who serves as a mentor to those seeking graduate fellowships

Content Recommendations

8) Examine dormant Master Agreements that could be revived and used.

9) Make sure there is a way for researchers to edit their own research profiles within the NC Expertise

Database.

10) Create classes for new researchers regarding compliance, how to find resources, and what a

proposal should look like.

11) If current facilities are not being used efficiently, re-assign them.

Content Recommendations

12) Create industry advisory boards and learn how we can improve our partnerships

13) Encourage Department Heads to communicate with News Services when researchers are published

in larger journals

14) Help graduates enter the job market: Pay for first year’s salary in return for joint patent assignments.

Just plain good ideas

1) “Ideas in-box” or “Idea Depot” Work with URC to develop a website where people can submit research ideas/tools/practices that would work well

at NC State

2) “Central Student Opportunity Database”Work with URC to develop a website where we can list research projects/wish-lists and allow students to choose real-life problems to work on (anything from developing a

web tool to part-time technician)

Just plain good ideas

3) “Listening Sessions”Don’t forget our students’ perspectives. Hold focus

groups to learn exactly what researchers need, how industry would like to partner, etc.