Strategic Research Plan

1. Strategic Research Plan the power of strategy + action Results from Breakout Sessions Research Retreat 12 February 2010 Terri L. Lomax Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Studies

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

3. Editorial Recommendations • Edit for brevity & impact (CONSOLIDATE) • Don’t confuse “Objectives” with “Action Items” and/or “Metrics” • Mindful of Strategic Plan vs. Implementation Plan • Remove jargon; straight talk • Preamble recommended. Address inclusion of traditional disciplines as well as multidisciplinary

4. Content Recommendations Recurring themes/recommendations: • Need for first-class facilities & instrumentation: understand what we have, where we have it, and what we need. • Cluster hires/talent procurement: create advisory committees to help (roster should include internationally known researchers) • Need for unrestricted/flexible funding. Work with Development & Foundation Relations on this.

5. Content Recommendations Recurring themes/recommendations: • Create a culture of partnerships: show what the value is of multidisciplinary research for everyone involved. • Proactively nominate researchers for international awards. Make the nomination process available online.

6. Content Recommendations High-level content recommendations: • 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. • Include values such as creativity & scholarship rather than a dollar-driven tone. • Illustrate NC State’s mission to respond to critical societal needs in our plan.

7. Content Recommendations • Include “faculty, staff and students” throughout plan, rather than “faculty & grad students” • When referring to rewarding faculty activities that are ‘above and beyond,’ instead of using “incentive,” use another phrase (e.g. support & encourage) • Shore up our traditional strengths while entering into new areas of research • Bring existing traditional research areas together to create new strengths

8. Content Recommendations Specific content recommendations: • Sunset clause: Address the timeline of the Strategic Plan. (e.g. review every 5 years) • Incentives to keep undergrads on campus as graduate students • In order to increase Federal funding, work directly with program officers to create funding opportunities. Align SRAs with agency SRAs. Discussion about “capture teams.”

9. Content Recommendations • Since DOD is becoming export-controlled, create system secure areas • To increase memberships, encourage University higher-administration to contact agency higher-administration • To attract grad students: Fellowships at the institutional level • Replace position on campus who serves as a mentor to those seeking graduate fellowships

10. Content Recommendations • Examine dormant Master Agreements that could be revived and used. • Make sure there is a way for researchers to edit their own research profiles within the NC Expertise Database. • Create classes for new researchers regarding compliance, how to find resources, and what a proposal should look like. • If current facilities are not being used efficiently, re-assign them.

11. Content Recommendations • Create industry advisory boards and learn how we can improve our partnerships • Encourage Department Heads to communicate with News Services when researchers are published in larger journals • Help graduates enter the job market: Pay for first year’s salary in return for joint patent assignments.

12. Just plain good ideas • “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 • “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)

13. Just plain good ideas • “Listening Sessions” • Don’t forget our students’ perspectives. Hold focus groups to learn exactly what researchers need, how industry would like to partner, etc.