Being a Productive Faculty Scholar at a Teaching Institution

1. Being a Productive Faculty Scholar at a Teaching Institution Mark A. Erhart, PhD Professor of Molecular Biology Faculty Associate for Research Excellence Center for Teaching and Research Excellence (CTRE) Chicago State University

2. The Importance of Research and Scholarly Activity by a Faculty Member Required for retention, promotion, tenure Essential for the enhancement of teaching and training students Important for attracting students to the institution Critical to enhancing the image of an institution Central to the morale of faculty

3. Research/Scholarly Activity as a Requirement The Departmental Application of Criteria (DAC) for each academic department specifies the minimum requirements for research for every personnel action Especially for junior faculty, familiarity with the research requirements of the DAC is critical

4. Beyond the DAC: Why Engage in Research? For selfish reasons: Because we love our research, both the process and the outcomes For our students: To be truly educated in a discipline, one must have firsthand experience in applying knowledge to an important problem or question For our institution: To fulfill the mission of an institution

5. Why Research Often Becomes an Afterthought at Teaching Institutions The stated �primary mission� of the institution is teaching The stated �primary duties� for a faculty member includes teaching, but not research These realities result in: Significantly reduced budgeting for research An infrastructure (physical plant, business offices) not geared to research An external perception (by granting agencies) that research is not a priority for an applicant institution

6. Barriers to Productive Faculty Research A year-long schedule with a 100% time commitment to teaching/primary duties Significant service commitments (committees, committees, committees) Insufficient support Financial Personnel Physical infrastructure Daunting Bureaucracy

7. �I can�t find the time�� Strategies for creating year-long schedules that are research-friendly Limiting number of different courses Limiting enrollment in sections Negotiating release time for grant proposal writing

8. �I can�t find the time�� Strategies for more efficient time management (i.e., more time for research) Choose committee work carefully (I.e., join committees which overlap your research interests Be careful with �open door policies� Be visible enough to attract students to research projects

9. Finding Institutional Support Offices/Departments designed to enhance research activities Library CTRE/ Technology & Learning Resources Sponsored Programs School of Graduate and Professional Studies Offices/Departments which impact research activities Physical Plant Security/ BERT Purchasing/Accounts Payable Human Resources/Payroll

10. Navigating the Bureaucracy A daunting institutional bureaucracy can be a major impediment to research The Issues: Access to space (issuing keys) Hiring Personnel (faculty, staff, students) Regulatory Approvals IRB IBC IACUC Fiscal (budgets, reports, auditing)

11. Strategies for Navigating the Bureaucracy Get to know the personnel in an office/administrative unit Identify the most helpful people and deal with them Hire (or utilize) a person in your department who is skilled at navigation (this reduces your stress level) Learn the rules and know the rules, no matter how inane they seem to be Follow up; keep complete files; keep your own budget records

12. Intramural Resources Available at CSU Research CUEs Enrichment Grants Program Grants If used properly, these intramural resources can be a springboard to obtaining extramural funding Generating preliminary data is often critical for producing a funded grant proposal

13. Strategies for Best Use of Intramural Resources Use Research CUEs as release time, not as an override (requires cooperation from Dept. Chair) Have modest goals (e.g., a pilot study to generate preliminary data)

14. Why is Extramural Funding Important? For the faculty member: Release time/pursuit of passion Career advancement Scheduling freedom/flexibility Summer salary For students: Salary/tuition Practical experience in the discipline For the institution Enhancement of public image Indirect costs

15. Before Applying for Funding Consult with Department Chair regarding how your duties will be impacted should you receive funding Confirm that institutional resources needed for project (space, computer, personnel, etc.,.) are understood by all parties File �Intent to Submit� paperwork with Sponsored Programs Request letters of support from institutional officials Request release time for proposal writing

16. Strategies for Obtaining Extramural Funding Identify appropriate potential sources of funding (agencies, foundations, etc.,.) Identify appropriate programs within an agency (pilot programs, young investigator awards, mid-career transition, etc.,.) Contact Program Officers for �inside information� Contact peers who have applied for or received awards from the target program(s) Solicit peer reviewers who will provide candid feedback during the proposal writing process

17. Strategies for Obtaining Extramural Funding Consult a professional grant writer or consultant, if possible After submission, be patient and resilient (funding rates in some areas are as low as 16%) Don�t take reviewers� comments personally Address reviewers� comments and resubmit Be prepared to negotiate budget downward with Agency Program Officer

18. �I got a grant! Now what?� Communicate regularly with Sponsored Programs regarding reports, audits, time/effort forms, etc.,. Meet with Grant Accountant to review budget, expenditures Meet with Purchasing personnel to learn about on-line ordering, submission of DPVs, travel authorization, etc.,. Negotiate for indirect cost return to your department Publish, publish, publish!

19. My Perspective 20 years at CSU Hired in 1990 with a negotiated release time of 50% Arrived with a grant sub-contract (NSF) From 1992 to present, 25 - 50% of my AY salary has been from extramural grants Total federal support in grant-years = 36 Training grants have supported summer students (80), research assistants (25), Bridge to PhD students (16), summer faculty (15)

20. Goals of the CTRE Research Excellence Committee Increase the number of peer-reviewed CSU faculty publications Increase the number of extramural grant proposals submitted by CSU faculty Increase the number of grants awarded to CSU faculty

21. How to Achieve the Goals Identifying impediments, problems, concerns (faculty surveys, focus groups, workshops) Improving the existing intramural research support mechanisms ( research CUEs, enrichment grants) Establishment of a web site as a faculty research resource (help, FAQs, links) Other ideas

22. Initial Faculty Research Survey Faculty attendees please complete the survey (home department is the only identifier) Students/Staff/Administrators are welcome to complete a survey (please write �student�, �staff�, or �administrator� on survey form) This survey has been judged by the IRB Chair to be exempt from IRB review

23. Contact Information Mark A. Erhart Department of Biological Sciences SCI-310 x 2432 merhart@csu.edu

24. Thanks Tiffany Davis- Associate Coordinator, CTRE Dr. Debrah Jefferson, VP Contract Administration Dr. Sandra Westbrooks, Provost Dr. Floyd Banks, Chair, Biological Sciences CTRE Faculty Associates Khalid Alsamara Rosalind Fielder Liz Osika Brandon Taylor