University of Central Oklahoma
THURSDAY February 13, 1997
The Student Voice Since 1903
En Garde... Two members of UCO's Fencing Club fight during a meeting in the Broncho Corral on Monday. (Staff photo by John Clanton)
University research guidelines clarified
C
learing up misconceptions about research was the guest speaker's focus at the faculty senate meeting this month. "Research is not a primary mission of the college, but supplementary," said Dr. Narasinga Rao, UCO director of research, at the Feb. 6 meeting. Teaching, research and community service are all taken into consideration when a faculty member is applying for tenure, Rao said. He explained to the senate the importance of getting funding for research outside the university. UCO has a matching fund policy. When a faculty member receives funds externally, UCO will match the funds, he said. This does not cost the university in the long run, he said, because the Oklahoma
State Regents for Higher Education reimburse the university for matching funds. Rao said an external grant-writing seminar will be held Feb. 20 to discuss grant writing and where to look for grant money. For the past three years, Rao said, UCO has had no release time for faculty members to lighten their teaching load while working on research projects. This year with $200,000 allocated to the research department, $140,000 will be used for supplies, traveling and student workers. The other $60,000 can be used
to lessen teaching loads by either hiring student helpers or adjunct teachers. Faculty members can go to their department chairperson and request one of these options. The chairperson will then send a request to Rao. He said the research advisory council will look over the proposals and past research projects, then make their recommendations. Fiscal Year 1997-1998 research proposals are due in the Office of Faculty Research by Feb. 28. Rao has designed a policy task force to decide guidelines for distributing the funds. A handbook will be made with their
approved decisions detailing: 'research grant awarding factors 'what grant money can be spent on •who can travel using grant money •the processes of student hiring 'time frame for research projects •how research findings will be evaluated. "The handbook is needed so faculty will know where they stand on getting a research grant," Rao said. Allowing the faculty to present their findings in a forum is another challenge for the university. Presentations are now made during Salute to Education week. Rao said he is working on a forum day where researchers from Oklahoma universities can meet and present their findings. —By Joanna Owen-Clouston Staff Writer
INSIDE TODAY INDEX Editorial 2 Campus Quotes 2 Letters 4 Sports 10,11 Around Campus ... 17 Around Town 18 Classifieds 19
QUIET WEEK Faculty senate, SGA propose revisions to Quiet Week policy.
FEATURE VP of academic affairs talks about goals and philosophies.
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BLACK HISTORY The Vista continues its series on famous black Americans.
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