TEXAS COOPERATIVE FISH AND WILDLIFE RESEARCH UNIT STRATEGIC PLAN MISSION STATEMENT VISION STATEMENT

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "TEXAS COOPERATIVE FISH AND WILDLIFE RESEARCH UNIT STRATEGIC PLAN MISSION STATEMENT VISION STATEMENT"

Merry Amber Lester
5 years ago
Views:

1 TEXAS COOPERATIVE FISH AND WILDLIFE RESEARCH UNIT STRATEGIC PLAN MISSION STATEMENT The Texas Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit facilitates and expands graduate scholarship, research, sustainable economic development and conservation of natural resources and the environment by providing unbiased scientific data and analysis for our cooperators. VISION STATEMENT The Texas Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Unit will be nationally recognized for its track record of excellence in science, human resource development, and service to our cooperators and the public. The Texas Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit will achieve national and international prominence in research by: providing an environment that fosters multidisciplinary intellectual discovery, creative problem solving, and the dissemination and application of knowledge; conducting programs that contribute significantly to social and sustainable economic development of natural resources; training students to work on nationally and internationally significant projects for Unit clientele; conducting superior research for Unit clientele; and establishing national and international partnerships in research. 1

2 GOALS, CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS, and OBJECTIVES (including Strategies and Assessments) GOAL 1. Access and Diversity: Recruit, retain, and graduate students reflective of the cultural diversity of Texas. Annual average of 3 graduate students per unit scientist. Annual total of at least 3 minority or female graduate students. Average graduation rate of one graduate student per unit scientist per year. Annual total of 3 undergraduate research student assistants. Objective 1.1: Provide a minimum of one graduate assistantship per year for use in the recruitment and continuity of top minority and female graduate students. Seek support of the coordinating Committee for the establishment of unit operational funds to support minority and female graduate students. Develop support for minority and female undergraduate research assistants. Number of minority and female graduate students within the Coop Unit. Number of minority and female undergraduate students employed as research assistants. Objective 1.2: Facilitate graduate student attendance and presentation of research results at regional, national, and international professional meetings. Provide travel support for graduate students to attend national meetings. Provide vehicle for transport of graduate students to national, regional and state meetings. Number of graduate students presentations at national, regional and state meetings. Number of graduate students attending national, regional and state meetings. Objective 1.3: Facilitate graduate student interaction with personnel from state and federal natural resource management or regulatory agencies. Include graduate students in planning sessions with state and federal agency personnel. 2

3 Number of meetings held with state and federal personnel in which graduate students are present. Proportion of meetings held with state and federal personnel in which graduate students are present. Objective 1.4: Include graduate student stipends in grant proposals for extramural research funding. Develop proposals with budgets to include funding for graduate students when appropriate or allowed by the funding agencies. Number of proposals developed with funding provisions for graduate students. Objective 1.5: Participate in the writing of graduate student training grant proposals with faculty from departments throughout the campus. Meet with faculty from RWFM, Biology, and Civil Engineering to develop grant proposals. Number of proposals completed to provide training opportunities for graduate students. Objective 1.6: Establish crediting guidelines for unit faculty involvement in the direction of research by graduate students from departments throughout the campus. Unit faculty will negotiate to be co-chair of graduate student committees in situations when the student performs a significant portion of their research in unit facilities or under unit faculty supervision. Number of committee co-chair positions filled by Unit personnel. Number of committees co-chaired by unit scientists relative to the number of committees served on by unit scientists. 3

4 GOAL 2. Academic and Research Excellence: Attain national recognition as a top Cooperative Fisheries and Wildlife Research Unit. Maintain average extramural annual funding rates averaging $80,000 per Assistant Unit Leader for personal research program activities. Maintain average annual publication rate of 2 peer-reviewed publications per unit scientist. Number of national or international peer-review or professional advisory committee on which unit scientists serve. Number of national and international meetings and symposia to which unit scientists re invited as guest speakers. Objective 2.1: Enhance visibility of unit scientists locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally. Maintain a regularly updated unit web page describing program accomplishments and expertise of unit faculty. Seek opportunities for unit faculty s research to be highlighted in university, local and national news publications. Seek opportunities for participation in national and international scientific workshops or conferences. Number of hits per day on Coop Unit and other appropriate web pages. Number of news article reporting on Unit research projects. Number of workshops and conferences attended by Unit personnel. Objective 2.2: Expand the formation of interdisciplinary research groups on campus. Promote the capabilities of unit scientists among campus faculty (Range, Wildlife & Fisheries Management; Biological Sciences; Environmental Toxicology and others. Number of non-unit scientists and faculty working on projects and proposals with Unit personnel. Objective 2.3: Pursue collaboration and interdisciplinary research with federal and state agencies and biologists from other universities. 4

5 Promote the capabilities of unit scientists among researchers at other universities, U.S. Geological Survey-Biological Resources Division- Cooperative Research Units, and other federal and state agencies. Number of scientists outside of Texas Tech University working on projects and proposals with Unit personnel. Objective 2.4: Enhance presence of unit scientists in professional societies and organizations. Attend professional meetings. Serve on organization offices, committees and working groups. Number of professional meetings attended. Number of offices, committee appointments, and working groups on which Unit scientist serves. Objective 2.5: Maintain fisheries and wildlife research as a unit priority as defined under Vision Statement. Develop research proposals on fisheries and wildlife topics. Recruit students seeking fisheries and wildlife training. Number of proposals developed with fisheries and wildlife topics. Number of students recruited to work on fisheries and wildlife topics. 5

6 GOAL 3. Partnership: Conduct fisheries, wildlife, and ecological research that addresses natural resource informational needs of state, federal and private sector cooperators. Number of fisheries, wildlife, or ecological research projects that address the informational needs of public and private sector cooperators in the region. Number of multidisciplinary projects including faculty from throughout the university. Objective 3.1: Increase dialogue and personal interactions with state, federal, and private sector biologists. Attend annual meetings of Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society, American Fisheries Society, and other relevant professional meetings. Promote regular visits between unit scientists and cooperators at each other s facilities, offices and field sites. Number of regional professional meetings attended. Number of visits between Unit scientists and cooperators. Objective 3.2: Develop joint research proposals involving unit and Texas Parks and Wildlife scientists to third party funding agencies or foundations. Identify Texas Parks and Wildlife research needs that are within the scope of the personal expertise of unit personnel. Identify appropriate funding sources and develop grant proposals. Number of jointly submitted proposals. Objective 3.3: Maintain and enhance the use of Research Work Orders and other grants and contracts mechanisms available through the unit by Texas Tech University faculty working on projects of interest to Texas Parks and Wildlife and other regional unit cooperators. Develop web-based tools to explain use of Research Work Orders. Provide Research Work Order procedures to Texas Tech faculty. Number of hits on web pages. Number of packages delivered to explain Research Work Order process. 6

7 Objective 3.4: Seek Texas Parks and Wildlife agreement for state base funding to support unit (graduate student) fisheries research as currently available for unit wildlife research. Develop research projects in partnership with Texas Parks and Wildlife fisheries personnel. Invite fisheries personnel to attend the Coordinating Committee meeting of the Coop Unit. Number of research projects developed. Number of fisheries personnel attending the Annual Coordinating Committee meeting. Objective 3.5: Develop interdisciplinary research proposals with appropriate faculty from across the University to pursue research that addresses the informational needs of Unit Cooperators. Meet with faculty throughout the university to develop research proposals. Number of research proposals developed with faculty from throughout the university. 7

8 GOAL 4. Human Resources: Maintain a quality workforce and work environment. Provide a positive learning environment for University students. Increase under-represented students in graduate and undergraduate programs. Maintain a work environment to recognize and reward accomplishments of staff. Objective 4.1: Establish mechanisms for productive interactions among graduate students, and between graduate students and unit faculty. Hold annual meetings to introduce all Unit faculty to graduate students involved with Unit projects. Regular meetings between Unit faculty and their respective graduate students. Annual Meeting attendance by Unit personnel and students. Number of faculty-student meetings. Objective 4.2: Provide a positive learning environment allowing all students to advance to their maximum level of accomplishment. Provide hardware, software, books and tutorials for students to develop their research skills. Number of meetings with students to determine their needs and levels of satisfaction. Improvements to student office space. Objective 4.3: Promote interdisciplinary, multi-ethnic and international cooperation and understanding among graduate and undergraduate students. Hold weekly meetings with students to exchange ideas and seek solutions to interdisciplinary projects. Track ethnicity, gender, and discipline of students working on Coop Unit projects. 8

9 GOAL 5. Tradition and Pride: Foster a positive environment for the University, the Coop Unit, and U.S. Geological Survey. Renovate and modernize graduate student office and research facilities. Receipt of University, local, state, national and international awards and honors. Objective 5.1: Enhance visibility and availability of unit scientists. Attend relevant professional meetings. Promote regular visits between unit scientists and cooperators at each other s facilities/offices/field sites. Number of professional meetings attended. Number of meetings held with other scientists and cooperators. Objective 5.2: Serve on graduate committees and provide research advisement when appropriate and requested. Seek opportunities to serve on advisory committees of graduate students in departments throughout the University. Number of advisory committees on which Unit personnel serve. Responses to inquiries for professional advisement. 9

10 Objective 5.3: Participate in the research of graduate students from other departments as requested and under the guidelines for unit faculty participation. Be available to visit with graduate students seeking to develop graduate advisory committee. Number of graduate advisory committees on which Unit personnel serve as members and not chair or co-chair Objective 5.4: Publish research results in peer-review journals. Submit manuscript articles to peer-reviewed journals. Number of articles submitted for consideration for publication. Number of articles published. Objective 5.5: Improve quality and functionality of office and laboratory facilities in the Fisheries and Wildlife Research Building in order to attract top graduate students. Seek University support for the renovation of student office and laboratory space at the Fisheries and Wildlife Research Building. Amount of improvement to graduate student office spaces. 10

11 GOAL 6. Technology: Maximize the use of technology in training and research. Provide state-of-the-art equipment to conduct biological and ecological research. Provide training for use of state-of-the-art equipment to conduct biological and ecological research. Presence of technologically trained personnel in the laboratory. Objective 6.1: Maintain state-of-the-art equipment to provide training for students and cutting-edge research for clients. Replace computers and ancillary hardware after 3 years to keep equipment updated. Upgrade software as new products are developed. Age of hardware and amount spent on hardware. Age of software and amount spent on software. Objective 6.2: Explore new technologies, including hardware and software, which could offer new tools for understanding the complexities of natural systems including wildlife, fisheries and ecological resources. Visit with colleagues within discipline and in other disciplines to evaluate equipment for potential use in natural resource research. Monitor new equipment developed for application in other fields and explore application in natural resources research. New equipment and technologies evaluations. Objective 6.3: Develop partnerships with other state and federal agencies and commercial vendors to adapt their technology to research projects in natural resources. Make and maintain contact and communication with agency personnel and commercial vendors to explore opportunities to develop, adapt and apply new technology to natural resources. Number of projects incorporating new technology or innovative uses of existing technology. 11

12 GOAL 7. Engagement: Build community connections that enhance the quality of life for students and the community. In cooperation with the University, provide an amount of technical assistance and information transfer to the public. Provide leadership within the community through interactions with public service groups, clubs and committees. Objective 7.1: Participation of unit scientists on professional and cooperators advisory committees. Seek out opportunities and make offers when appropriate to serve on advisory committees. Number of advisory committees served on by unit scientists. Objective 7.2: The delivery of assistance or leadership in the research of graduate students from throughout the university as appropriate. Develop and maintain contact with faculty from other disciplines to facilitate service on their graduate student committees. Number of graduate committees outside of departments. Objective 7.3: Service in peer-review activities as requested. Maintain membership in professional societies to facilitate peer-review activities on society publications. Offer to serve as a peer-reviewer for professional journals. Maintain strong publication record to maintain recognition for expertise. Number of requests for service as peer-reviewer for each unit scientist. Objective 7.4: Wide dissemination of research results. Publish research results in appropriate peer-reviewed journals. Present research results at appropriate professional meetings. 12

13 Number of papers published in peer-reviewed journals. Number of presentations at professional meetings. Objective 7.5: Reach out to the community to deliver science and services to the public. Make offers and accept invitations to present research results to local community groups. Number of presentations made to local and regional community groups. Objective 7.6: Participate in sustainable economic development. Provide research data to University and local government officials and the private sector for use in rural economic development. Number of individuals to whom data were provided for use in economic development. 13

14 GOAL 8. Institutional Advancement and Accountability: Strengthen fiscal stability and public accountability. Increase the economic activity of the Coop Unit to about double of that today ($2 million annually today). Receipt of funding for multidisciplinary University-wide projects. Adoption of Coop-Unit developed procedures at the national level for Coop Units. Objective 8.1: Work with University colleagues to develop economic activity totaling a long-term average of about $4 million per year. Seek opportunities to match Coop Unit capabilities with needs of the federal government. Seek opportunities to develop proposals to federal, state and other sources. Level of long-term average of economic activity of the Coop Unit. Dollar amount of proposals developed and submitted. Number of proposals developed and submitted. Objective 8.2: Support the University-wide efforts to advance the rankings and recognition of Texas Tech University as a first choice for wildlife and fisheries sciences and the sustainable development of natural resources. Maintain web pages to transfer information on Unit Program. Provide reprints of publications to the public. Respond to the public s requests for information. Number of visitors accessing web pages annually. Number of publication reprints mailed annually. Number of requests for information filled annually. Objective 8.3: Support colleagues from throughout the University to enhance their success in competition for research funding. Recommend TTU colleagues for expertise needed by funding agencies. Invite colleagues to participate in research proposals or programs. 14

15 Provide advice, collaborate, and when appropriate, provide technical assistance and equipment to colleagues within discipline and from other departments of the university. Number of colleagues contacted by funding agencies seeking their expertise. Number of colleagues invited to participate in research proposals or programs. Number of collaborative research proposals submitted. Number of external projects drawing on unit expertise and equipment. Objective 8.4: Develop or modify Coop Unit research, administrative, and accountability procedures as needed to avoid waste, fraud and abuse of resources. Monitor expenditure of funds and use of equipment to ensure proper utilization. Develop Unit procedures to correct deficiencies as needed. Dollar amount of budgets properly expended as compared to total budget available. Completion of an annual survey to detect waste, fraud, and abuse. 15

Michigan State University

Michigan State University Dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Michigan State University (MSU), the nation s premier land-grant university, invites applications and nominations for