Faculty Senate

Research Policies Council

This page contains the role statement and council charges.

Role statement

The Research Policies Council (RPC) is responsible for reviewing, developing and recommending policies dealing with the enhancement and implementation of research and creative activity in the University.

Council Standing Committees

Executive Committee—prepares the agenda for Council meetings and proposals for Council consideration.
Research Screening Committee—oversees the administration of the Faculty Research and Creative Activities Support Fund (FRACASF); evaluates all final reports from awardees; determines future eligibility of applicants; makes recommendations to RPC for changes in FRACASF policy to promote more efficient operation of the program and/or better encourage research at Western Michigan University; and assesses the outcomes of the FRACASF by determining research contributions in the form of publications, papers and seed money for external funding.

Charges

2012-13

Osama Abudayyeh will serve as the Senate Executive Board representative on RPC.

In addition to the specific responsibilities specified in the Research Policies Council’s role statement and the work of the RPC’s standing committees, the Faculty Senate Executive Board charges the RPC to consider, as a committee of the whole or through the appropriate sub-committee or task force, the following issues:

1. Establish a committee that includes faculty and student members of RPC as well as representatives from the Office of the Vice President for Research to review the RPC role statement and evaluate the processes used to support and enhance creative activities and scholarship. Based upon this evaluation develop goals and policies for enhancing faculty and student activities in scholarship, creative activities and research.

2. Address any continuing or outstanding issues or initiatives as deemed necessary by the council. To the extent possible conclude any outstanding initiative by producing a memorandum of action, report or resolution.

3. Conduct yearly review of the state of the research ethics policies and procedures in collaboration with the Vice President for Research. Initiate changes or additions where appropriate. (Taken from WMU Self-Study Report.)

4. Monitor the viability of the solution to issues related to the Conflict of Interest Policy and construct a formal written memo regarding a solution based on real case data.

5. Monitor the number of proposals submitted in 2011-12 for the Faculty Research and Creative Activities Award to see if the OVPR workshop strategies are paying off in increase numbers of quality proposals.

6. Continue with the celebration of Research and Creative Activities Day.

7. Continue review of Support for Faculty Scholar Award proposals.

8. Continue discussion of medical school issues pertaining to research.

9. Review and recommend research-oriented technologies in collaboration with the Academic and Information Technology Council and the Office of the Vice President for Research.

Note

It is understood that the RPC will seek information from OVPR and maintain communications with that office as well as the Human Subjects Institutional Review Board (HSIRB) on issues directly related to them. The RPC is expected to keep the Senate Executive Board apprised of progress, especially in connection with any MOA it may develop and to give advance notice of any action the RPC seeks to place on the Senate agenda, including the final text of any proposed MOA, report or resolution. The Executive Board should also be notified of substantive procedural issues addressed by the RPC. The RPC shall provide a written summary of its progress on the above charges and any other activities undertaken no later than June 30, 2013.