Research Policies Council

Role statement

The Research Policies Council advocates for discovery in the University by developing, reviewing, and recommending policies that support and enhance research and creative activities, which may be funded or unfunded, and may involve graduate or undergraduate students.

Council Standing Committees 

  1. Agenda Committee—prepares the agenda for council meetings and proposals for Council consideration.
  2. Research Screening Committee—oversees the administration of the Faculty Research and Creative Activities Support Fund; 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 2023-24

In addition to its specific responsibilities listed in the Research Policies Council’s role statement and the work of its standing committees including but not limited to the Research Screening Subcommittee, the Faculty Senate Executive Board charges the RPC to consider, as a committee of the whole or through the appropriate committee or task force, the following:

  1. Review the guidelines, policies, procedures/processes, and eligibility of the  Faculty Research and Creative Activities Award (FRACAA) MOA-08/03, Support for Faculty Scholar Award (SFSA), Final Preparation and Publication of Papers and Exhibition of Creative Works (PPP&E) MOA-09/06, and the Faculty Research Travel Fund (FRTF) MOA-03/10 so that all programs have the goal of facilitating equitable distribution of the awards. Conclude the initiative by producing a report to the Executive Board of a Memorandum of Action.
  2. Conduct an annual review of who is applying and who is being funded. Evaluate the effectiveness of these programs in terms of enhancing competitiveness for external funds.
  3. Continue to collaborate with the Office of Research and Innovation in developing strategies to support faculty to advance research and creative scholarship. Develop processes fo strategic promotion of the funding opportunities for faculty at WMU. Provide recommendations to strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration to build compelling research proposals. Conclude the initiative by producing a report to the Executive Board or a Memorandum of Action.
  4. Review policies that have not been reviewed in the past five years. Microbiology Safety and Security Policy (MOA-02/10); Export Control Policy (MOA-09/01); Research Space for Emeriti (MOA-02/11). Conclude the initiative by producing a report to the Executive Board or a Memorandum of Action.
  5. Review the scope and description of the council’s role and assess the effectiveness of the council's practices.
  6. At the annual April RPC meeting, the council members must review the draft year-end report, to be submitted to the Faculty Senate office, by the council chair no later than June 30.
  7. Address any continuing or outstanding issues or initiatives as directed by the Faculty Senate Executive Board, members of the council, faculty, and/or academic administrators. Conclude the initiative by producing a report to the Executive Board or a Memorandum of Action.

Approved by the Faculty Senate Executive Board on July 28, 2023

NOTE: The RPC will seek information from the office of the Office of Research and Innovation and the Human Subjects Institutional Review Board (HSIRB) to maintain communications with those offices on issues directly related to them. Council recommendations are to be submitted to the Executive Board in the form of a memorandum of action (MOA) on which the recommendation(s) is/are stated. Any draft MOAs requested by the Executive Board should be submitted using the MOA template.

The RPC chairperson shall provide a written report of the council’s accomplishments and progress for the year; list the above charges noting each items progress and current status; any other activities undertaken; and draft charges for the 2024-25 academic year, no later than June 30, 2024.

Click here for a printable version of the RPC 2023-24 Charges