It is understood that a balance between teaching and research is very important to the future of Missouri State University. The University will strategically leverage resources to further capitalize on targeted areas of current strength and to develop new capabilities and productivity in meeting community needs. The Engaged Inquiry strategic direction has a number of components which integrate and work in parallel with the Partners for Progress strategic direction.
Objectives Reflect Focus and Direction
Increase the amount and scope of basic and applied research activity in selected fields where MSU has competitive strength and which are consistent with University's mission and vision
Measure 1:
Total number of projects submitted for external funding
Tactics:
Accountability:
Work with colleges and departments to implement faculty workload policies that provide flexibility in assignments that will enable grant-writing for external funding and promote the work of the department as a unit
Director of Office of Sponsored Research and Programs (OSRP) in coordination with Provost and College Deans
Ensure that changes in the faculty roles and rewards system have components aligned with the objective of increasing research and all categories of grant work
Director of OSRP in coordination with Provost and College Deans
Maintain the pre- and post-award grants management and research compliance infrastructure necessary to compete for and administer grants and contracts from a variety of external funding sources
Director of OSRP in coordination with Provost and College Deans
Develop and apply productivity measures to evaluate the University centers and institutes with the goal of aligning resources for greatest productivity
Director of OSRP in coordination with Provost and College Deans
OSRP will continue to assist faculty and staff in locating funding sources and proposal preparation
Director of OSRP in coordination with Provost and College Deans
Maintain MSU internal grant and fellowship programs to incentivize research and course improvement projects
Director of OSRP in coordination with Provost and College Deans
Measure 2:
Total external funds awarded
2016 Target:
Increase from $20 million to $25 million
Source: University Benchmark Comparisons
Tactics:
Accountability:
See "Measure 1: Total number of projects submitted for external funding" tactics
Director of OSRP in coordination with Provost and College Deans
Measure 3:
Percent of faculty participating as principal or co-principal investigators - all proposals submitted
Tactics:
Accountability:
See "Measure 1: Total number of projects submitted for external funding" tactics
Director of OSRP in coordination with Provost and College Deans
Measure 4:
Number of proposals for external funding submitted in biotechnology, materials science, natural environment and health
Tactics:
Accountability:
Continue efforts to develop MSU research teams and collaborations with other institutions and agencies for development of competitive grant proposals
Director of OSRP in coordination with Provost and College Deans
Maintain and increase use of equipment-matching funds for external proposals
Director of OSRP in coordination with Provost and College Deans
Continue to provide new faculty in these fields with equipment start-up and internal-grant funding to facilitate research productivity
Director of OSRP in coordination with Provost and College Deans
Directly link indirect funds from external grants to research support functions of the University (facilities, equipment, support staff, grant-assistance, GAs, etc.)
Director of OSRP in coordination with Provost and College Deans
Include student research funding in proposals submitted for external funding, and use active recruitment to expand the number of students completing degrees in these fields
Director of OSRP in coordination with Provost and College Deans
Measure 5:
Awards received in the selected fields
2016 Target:
Increase from $4.0 million annually to $4.4 million annually
Source: Aspirational Increase based upon prior record
Tactics:
Accountability:
See tactics for "Measure 4: Number of proposals for external funding submitted in biotechnology, materials science, natural environment and health"
Director of OSRP in Conjunction with CNAS and CHHS Deans
Measure 6:
Number of faculty publications (books, journal articles and juried performance and creative works)
Tactics:
Accountability:
In the first year of the plan the baseline for scholarly productivity recorded in Activity Insights (Digital Measures) will be analyzed and 2016 targets will be set for each area reflected in the AIM Dashboard
Provost in conjunction with College Deans
Increase the number of student-faculty collaborative research activities
Measure 1:
Number of undergraduate research projects and participants
2016 Target:
TBD
Tactics:
Accountability:
In the first year of the plan appoint a task force to assess the current level of undergraduate research activity and to develop a plan to stimulate undergraduate student research
Director of Honors Program in conjunction with College Deans
Measure 2:
Number of theses
2016 Target:
Increase from 127 to 138
Source: University Best Practices
Tactics:
Accountability:
Maintain Graduate College assistance (workshops, guidelines, thesis reviews) and give additional special assistance to relatively new graduate programs
Dean of the Graduate College working with College Deans and Program Directors
Continue to provide thesis mini-grants
Dean of the Graduate College working with College Deans and Program Directors
Measure 3:
Number of graduate research projects/participants in non-thesis programs
2016 Target:
Increase from 624 to 650
Source: University Best Practices
Tactics:
Accountability:
Retain graduate program non-thesis research requirements and continue implementing graduate recruitment initiatives designated in Graduate College Recruitment Plan; these include working with Faculty Senate to gain approval of Graduate Council Recruitment Committee
Dean of the Graduate College working with College Deans and Program Directors
Develop guidelines for leveraging internships as a mechanism for conducting non-thesis research projects
Dean of the Graduate College working with College Deans and Program Directors
Increase the number and impact of collaborative interdisciplinary research projects
Measure 1:
Number of projects
2016 Target:
TBD
Tactics:
Accountability:
In the first year of the plan appoint a task force to determine agreement on definition, areas of focus, baseline data and establishment of targets
Director of Office of Sponsored Research and Programs (OSRP) in coordination with College Deans
Measure 2:
Number of participants
2016 Target:
TBD
Tactics:
Accountability:
In the first year of the plan appoint a task force to determine agreement on definition, areas of focus, baseline data and establishment of targets
Director of OSRP in coordination with College Deans
Expand the capacity of the University to engage in the scholarship of teaching with intended outcomes of improving the design and delivery of the student learning experience
Measure 1:
Number of projects
2016 Target:
TBD
Tactics:
Accountability:
Appoint a task force to work with Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning to determine baseline and to set targets in first year of plan
Director of the Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning
Measure 2:
Number of participants
2016 Target:
TBD
Tactics:
Accountability:
Appoint a task force to work with Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning to determine baseline and to set targets in first year of plan
Director of the Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning
Measure 3:
Number of publications
2016 Target:
TBD
Tactics:
Accountability:
Appoint a task force to work with Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning to determine baseline and to set targets in first year of plan
Director of the Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning
Current strengths
During the past five years, Missouri State established both expertise and infrastructure capacity in several specific areas of research/scholarly activity. Infrastructure development in these areas (such as biotechnology, environment and water resources, and materials science) is the result of targeted investment by the University and through externally generated funds. This plan recognizes that these programs will continue to develop and evolve, and that the majority of the funding will continue to be generated through external sources. During this five-year plan, the University will not only support these current strengths, but also target support for those areas identified as having the greatest need as well as areas of opportunity that might arise.
Areas of need
A major initiative to be undertaken during the five-year plan will be to develop strategies and tactics to better utilize University resources and expertise to address in a systematic and sustained way, pressing community issues such as rural health and education, arts and cultures, housing, social welfare, public order and safety, citizen participation, recreation and sports opportunities, and transportation. As part of this planning process, Engaged Inquiry will be viewed as a means of promoting public engagement by the University in search of knowledge-based solutions to local and regional issues.
In addition, the University will expand its capacity to engage in focused research on teaching and learning with the intended outcome of improving the design and delivery of student learning experiences. The University will make strategic investments that specifically promote student-faculty collaborative research as part of improving instruction at the undergraduate and graduate level, increase the number and impact of collaborative interdisciplinary research projects, and expand the capacity of the University to engage in the scholarship of teaching with intended outcomes of improving the design and delivery of student learning experiences. Targeted University investments in this area will be leveraged to generate external funds necessary for successful implementation of this portion of the plan.
During the first year of the plan, the provost will appoint a task force and an action plan will be developed to guide University efforts and investments in these areas of need. One of the major activities of the task force will be to examine the role that the University's various centers and institutes (for example the Community and Social Issues Institute) can play in responding to the region's many needs.