A61.15A65.2: Research Allocations Committee
Approved by: Faculty Senate
Effective: April 2228, 20142020
Responsible Faculty Committee: Research Allocations
Office Responsible for Administration: Office of the University Secretary
Revisions to the Policy Rationale, Policy Statement, and Applicability sections of this document must be approved by the full Faculty Senate.
Policy Rationale
The Research Allocations Committee (RAC) is one of four (4) committees that comprise the Faculty Senate Research and Creative Works Council, which is charged with oversight of the research and creative endeavors of the University of New Mexico (UNM) both funded and unfunded creative works. The primary mission of the RAC funding is to support the career development of faculty (research and creative works) who are in various stages of career development, but priority will be given to faculty who are: 1) in the early stage of their careers, 2) embarking upon new directions, or 3) in fields and disciplines where there is limited funding.
The Research Allocations Committee (RAC) supervises and allocates the Faculty Research Fund. This policy document provides policies and the procedures for grant application, approval, acceptance, and administration. It also defines the structure and composition of the Research Allocations CommitteeRAC.
Policy Statement
The Research Allocations CommitteeRAC receives requests from faculty members for grants-in-aid, determines faculty eligibility for grants from the fund and the amount of such grants, and appraises the merits of proposed research projects as well as the productivity of the applicants.
The CommitteeRAC shall communicate and meet with the Vice President for Research or his/her designated representatives. The Committee shall formally meet periodically during fall and spring semesters to discuss the availability and allocation of funds.
Committee Membership
Twelve (12) members appointed by the Faculty Senate; of these twelve (12), at least one (1) shall be selected from each of the following seven (7) areas with no more than three members from any one area serving concurrently:
- Physical Sciences
—e.g., --chemistry, earth and planetary, mathematics and statistics, physics and astronomy. - Life Sciences
—e.g., --biology, psychology. - Social Sciences
—e.g., --anthropology, "business and administrative sciences", economics, geography, history, law, political science, sociology. - Engineering--all departments of the School of Engineering.
- Education--all departments of the College of Education and Human Sciences.
- Humanities
—e.g., --architecture, English, journalism, foreign languages and literatures, Spanish and Portuguese, philosophy, communication. - Fine Arts--all departments of the College of Fine Arts.
The term of serviceoffice for faculty members shall be two (2) years, set up on a staggered basis so that the terms of approximately one-half (1/2) of members will expire each year. Committee members may be elected to a second two-year term. At least one (1) year must pass before a Committee member who has served two (2) consecutive two-year terms is again eligible to serve. At the last meeting each year, the Committee shall elect a chair from the eligible membership. The chairChair shall remain active through the summer session. The chairChair or a designated representative shall convene the initial meeting of the new committee.
Applicability
All UNM unitsfaculty, including the Health Sciences Center and Branch CampusesCommunity Colleges.
Revisions to the remaining sections of this document may be amended with the approval of the Faculty Senate Policy and Operations Committee in consultation with the responsible Faculty Senate Committee listed in Policy Heading.
Definitions
No specific definitions are required for the Policy Statement.
Who should read this policy
- Academic chairs, directors, and deans
Faculty members- Non-academic managers and directors
- Vice presidents and other executives
Related Documents
Research Allocations Committee GuidelinesFaculty Handbook:
Contacts
Direct any questions about this policy to the UNM Office of the University Secretary.
Procedures
Procedures for inclusion in this document will be developed by theThe Research Allocations Committee that defines:(RAC) will schedule regular meetings. The Committee Chair will report Committee recommendations through the Research and Creative Works Council for consideration by the Faculty Senate.
EligibilityFunding cycles and submissionsFunding priorities and eligible project categoriesApplication requirementsRAC review process
History
Effective:
March 29, 2011 — Approved by Faculty Senate
- April 28, 2020 - Approved by the Faculty Senate
- March 29, 2011 - Approved by Faculty Senate