A61.16: Research Policy Committee

Policy

The primary role of the Research Policy Committee shall be to encourage and support research and its funding at the University of New Mexico, including all its established units. The functions of the committee shall include, but not be limited to: initiating, formulating, recommending, and reviewing policies regarding sponsored and unsponsored research, and intellectual property; recommending University policy regarding the distribution of overhead and institutional grants; reviewing with the chief administrative officers for research the research budget of the University prior to and during its final development, and informing and making recommendations to the Faculty Senate regarding this budget; recommending policy concerning the use of the Faculty Research Fund and reviewing and making recommendations to the administration through the Faculty Senate regarding the budget of the Faculty Research Fund; formulating policy regarding the establishment, major modification or termination, and periodic review of research centers, bureaus, institutes, or other related organizations, reviewing and making recommendations to the central administration and the Faculty Senate on proposals regarding these bodies, and participating in the periodic review of these centers; evaluating, formulating and recommending policy concerning research support services provided by computer facilities, libraries, contract accounting, research administration, and other support organizations; making recommendations to the central administration when the appointment of the chief administrative officers for research is being considered; making recommendations to the Faculty Senate on matters of grant research, contract research, patent and copyright policy, and policy on commercialization of intellectual property affecting directly or indirectly the faculty and University as a whole; consulting with the Faculty Senate on formulating the charge of the Intellectual Property Committee as called for in the University Intellectual Property Policy; recommending candidates for the Annual Research Lectureship; meeting with the academic deans formally at least once each year to discuss current problems and exchange information concerning research; and consulting with the chief administrative officers for research regarding implementation of policies.

(Twelve faculty members, appointed by the Faculty Senate in consultation with the Committee chairperson, selected primarily from colleges and departments generating sponsored research: including three from the College of Arts and Sciences, two from the College of Education, two from the School of Engineering, one from the College of Fine Arts, one from the Library, and two from the Health Sciences Center. One graduate student member nominated by the Graduate and Professional Student Association (GPSA). Ex-officio members include the chief administrative officer for research on main campus, the chief administrative officer for research at the Health Sciences Center, and the Director of the Science and Technology Corporation at UNM. The attorney from the University Counsel’s office with primary responsibility for research matters shall attend committee meetings and provide legal advice to the RPC. The terms of office shall be for three years, set up on a staggered basis so that the terms of at least three members will expire each year. A member may be appointed for a second three-year term. The chair is elected by the Committee and normally will serve a renewable two-year term. The committee annually elects a Vice-Chair to serve in place of the chair in her/his absence. In addition to Committee appointees, subcommittee membership will be augmented with other faculty, administrators, and graduate students as required for specific subcommittee tasks.)