Research And Special Programs, Associate Vice President
Goal
Increase Research Activities
Increase research activities on campus for all areas
Objective
Provide More Research Funding Information
Inform new and senior faculty of research opportunities
KPI
Distribute Funding Information To All Depts And Colleges
ORSP distributes funding opportunities alerts to all depts and colleges
Result
Distribution Of Funding Information
The Associate Vice President of Research and Director of ORSP met with each College Dean individually to discuss what types of funding alerts should be sent to them and their faculty. Decisions were made to forward more targeted funding opportunities in place of the more widespread opportunities that were sent in the past. We also concluded that it is more efficient to have faculty use our databases of funding opportunities to identify funding possibilities. Therefore, we sent fewer, but more targeted alerts during this year. We did still send alerts to Deans and Faculty in all SHSU Colleges this year.
Result
Providing Access To Databases
ORSP maintained access to two databases that provided searches for funding opportunities. We managed the Community of Scholars program COS/PIVOT and Foundation Search. One staff member was appointed as the liason for the faculty, and she conducted training on these programs with any interested faculty and helped researchers enroll and use the program. At the time of this report we have 422 registered users using COS/PIVOT at SHSU, who this year downloaded 1743 funding opportunities. Foundation Search does not record users, so we do not have information on that database.
Action
Finding And Disseminating Funding Opportunities
The databases provided by ORSP appear to be well used and are providing valuable searches for funding opportunities. ORSP has previously maintained two databases because in the past the types of funding sources offered by each database were different. COS/PIVOT has been adding more data from foundations each year and our staff ascertained that there are now almost no opportunities found on Foundation Search that are not also on COS/PIVOT. We concluded that Foundation Search is no longer needed as a separate search engine. Therefore, ORSP will utilize the following sources to search for funding opportunities:
ORSP will continue to subscribe to COS/PIVOT and make this database available to anyone at SHSU looking for funding opportunities.
ORSP will track funding opportunities in high priority areas, as identified by Faculty and Deans, and forward any new opportunities.
ORSP will continue to engage the TSUS funded government affairs resource, The Normandy Group, who will inform us of Federal trends in grant opportunities. The Normandy Group will also provide weekly reports on new funding opportunities.
ORSP will continue to designate one staff member to managing the COS/PIVOT database and to train researchers on its use. We will also continue to have two staff members available to help researchers identify funding opportunities.
Goal
Increase External Funding
Increase sponsored research for all areas
Objective
Increase Number Of Faculty Pursuing Sponsored Research
Increase number of Faculty submitting grants to NSF, NIH, Dept. of Education, and other agencies
KPI
Conduct Grantwriting Workshops
Provide assistance to faculty through topic specific grantwriting workshops
Result
Grant Writing Workshops
ORSP sponsored seven workshops this year that included Basics of Grant Writing, Budget Preparation, Department of Education Grants, NIH Grants, NSF Grants, Foundation Grants and Opportunities, and The Post Award Function.
Action
Providing Grant Writing Workshops
We will continue to offer workshops. The feedback we receive from participants tell us that this is a valuable resource, especially for early career researchers and researchers changing the direction of their research program. Because of demand, we will offer approximately the same number of workshops in the coming year.
Goal
Increase Scholarly Activities
Increase creative and scholarly achievements
Objective
Assist Faculty To Develop More Scholarly Activities
Support faculty with scholarly endeavors
KPI
Assist Faculty Achieve More Scholarly Activities
Sponsor travel and/or activities related to scholarly achievement
Result
Funding Assistance For Scholarly Activities
Through internal grants and other financial assistance, ORSP provided financial support for research to 40 researchers. Results of the internal grans program are maintained in bound copies at ORSP and the Newton Gresham Library. Total funding directed to researchers from ORSP, both internal grants and other support, totaled $216,800.
Action
Support For Scholarly Activities
ORSP will manage a competitive internal grant program that will fund approximately ten researchers at a $15,000 level and ten researchers at a $5,000 level during the coming year. ORSP will also strategically use limited funds to support up to 10 faculty members in their effort to acquire external funding for their research.
Goal
Increase Research Opportunities For Students
Increase students' knowledge through more research opportunities
Objective
Assist Faculty Identify Research Opportunities Involving Students
Identify sponsored research programs aimed at exposing students to research
KPI
Identify Research Opportunities For Students
Identify grants that sponsor research projects involving students
Result
Assisting In Research Opportunities For Students
A new center for undergraduate research, EUREKA, was established and is now independent of ORSP. ORSP has now moved from directing the program to a supporting role. As such, ORSP hosted meetings and gave financial support to EUREKA to run a program of funded undergraduate research in 2014.
Action
Support For Undergraduate Research
ORSP will continue to support undergraduate research opportunities at SHSU. We will support EUREKA financially and with admistrative support if needed. ORSP will also look for external funding opportunities that might aid EUREKA in increasing undergraduate research opportunities at SHSU.