RESEARCH AND CREATIVE ACTIVITY
Major universities are responsible not only for conveying
knowledge, but also for creating it. At Kent State University, knowledge
creation is manifested in many ways. To illustrate, knowledge creation
occurs through what is termed "traditional basic research" (the scholarship
of discovery); through the innovative and original application of existing
knowledge (the scholarship of application); and through novel and original
integration of knowledge from several fields (the scholarship of
integration).
It is involvement by faculty, students, and staff in research and
creative activities that ensures the long-term intellectual health of the
University. This is not to say that every excellent teacher will be effective
in research and creativity. Nor will every successful researcher be an
effective teacher. But in the long view, teaching and research are mutually
supportive and complementary activities. And more often than not, good
teachers are involved in scholarly activities. Conversely, good scholars
are frequently the best teachers. Beyond assuring the long-term vitality of
the University, it is easily documented that research and creative activities
have throughout history resulted in changes which have benefitted society.
In this context,
A fundamental mission of the University is to
enhance the quality of life through research and
creative activity. Therefore, Kent State University has
among its Goals the generation, dissemination, and
application of knowledge in all its forms. Moreover, it
considers research and creative activity necessary for
teaching excellence. Faculty are expected to be actively
engaged in a broad spectrum of scholarly activity
conducted in accordance with the highest professional
and ethical standards. Much of this activity relies upon
cooperative efforts with students and staff. The
University supports these efforts by fostering an
environment of free inquiry; by offering opportunities
for research-assigned time; and by providing the
material and personnel resources required for high-
quality scholarship, including an excellent library with
Association of Research Libraries status. Kent State
University is committed to strengthening selected
research and creative programs that have attained, or
hold the promise of achieving, national and
international prominence, as well as those that fulfill
key societal Goals. [Kent Institutional Characteristics
statement (KICS)]
The University has an encompassing view of scholarship and thus
attaches a broad interpretation to the terms research and creativity. Kent is
a research-oriented university but also contains important elements of a
liberal arts college. Because Kent does not aspire to be totally
comprehensive in research and creative activities and graduate programs,
it plans to select carefully areas for major investment in research and
creative activities.
In the last decade, the University did invest selectively additional
financial resources to support research and creative activity. This effort
has resulted in significant gains in instruction, public service, and research
funding. Since 1983, the University doubled extramural funding for grant
and contract activities to a total exceeding $17 million annually from all
sources. Extramural support for research activities alone grew by more
than 300% and now represents 73% of total grant activities.
Kent's achievements in research and creative activity place the
University close to meeting the criteria for a Carnegie Research II
University (generating at least $12.5 million in federal support for research
and awarding fifty or more Ph.D degrees annually). Attaining the Goal of
Carnegie Research II status will signal Kent's recognition that sustained
investment in research and creativity cultivates a learning environment
which enhances both undergraduate and graduate instruction and learning
by serving as a catalyst for scholarly activity across the University
community. It will also provide the cornerstone for the University's effort
to meet the economic, societal, and technological challenges of the twenty-
first century. Building upon its achievements in research, creativity, and
sponsored program activity, the University will
Goal: Reinforce Kent's leadership role in research and
creative activity in Northeast Ohio through the
attainment of Carnegie Research II status.
Objectives
Increase the level of Kent's federal support for
research and development from approximately $9.5
million to at least $12.5 million while continuing to
award the Ph.D. to fifty or more candidates per
year--thereby fully satisfying the criteria for
Carnegie Research II status.
Increasesupport for areas already successful in
generating federal support such as biological
sciences, chemistry, education, the Liquid Crystal
Institute, mathematics and computer science,
physics, and psychology, as well as in areas with
future promise such as geology, some health-related
fields, and technology.
Strengthen programs and support services essential
to research programs with special attention to the
academic computing needs of students and faculty.
Encourage individual units to focus on achieving
excellence in a limited number of research and
creative activities to maximize the potential for
attracting external funds.
Increase support for library materials and services to
a level consistent with the institutional commitment
to Carnegie Research II status.
The significant challenges (scientific, social, technological) of the
approaching twenty-first century increase the importance of research and
creative activities at universities. The significance to universities of
research and sponsored program activity is growing while the availability
of funds in many areas is declining. Further, the competition for them is
becoming more intense. In this challenging research environment, the
University will
Goal: Increase the resource base through significant
enhancement of external support of all types and
aggressive intellectual property management.
Objectives
Establish an environment of expectation that faculty
and staff will actively pursue extramural grants and
contracts where feasible.
Ensure the reward/incentive structure appropriately
recognizes faculty and staff both for receiving
grants, as well as submitting proposals for external
funding.
Increase funds for the purchase, operation, and
maintenance of research equipment and to provide
for "start-up" equipment for new faculty.
Require, insofar as allowable, the inclusion of
graduate research assistantships in extramural grants
and provide incentives for units that increase
appointments in this manner.
Increase support for travel for faculty and graduate
students to conduct research and present the results
of research.
Seek funds for two-year postdoctoral fellowships to
be awarded to individual units on a competitive
basis.
Review the activities of the Office of
Technology Transfer to maximize the transfer of
intellectual property to commercial interests that
will benefit both the inventor/author and the
University.
A sustained commitment of resources to develop the infrastructure
that supports increased research and creative activity must be made
through selective reallocation of resources to those units with the greatest
likelihood of enhancing the quality of Kent research and creative
productivity and by fostering the continued growth of research funding
from extramural sources. Importantly, this commitment must be made
while maintaining the quality of a comprehensive learning environment
for undergraduates.
The University has programs and individuals whose research and
creative activity have achieved a high degree of national and international
distinction. Certain other programs are poised for such recognition. Some
of these may not have the potential for attracting significant external
funds, yet they can bring much benefit to the University, region, and state
through other means such as prestige, visibility, or satisfying regional or
national needs. Such programs should be nurtured.
The University will
Goal: Nurture distinguished programs of research and
creative activity that significantly benefit the institution,
region, and state.
Objectives
Encourage and support a variety of research and
creative activities in programs which are central to
the University's mission but have limited external
funding potential.
Augment funds available to continue existing
research and creative activities supported by
previous awards made under Selective Excellence
programs.
Use funds generated through increased indirect cost
recovery to support an internal "academic
challenge" competition to enhance programs that
are central to the University's mission.
At Kent, research and creative activities often cross unit,
departmental, and college boundaries. To encourage research among
faculty from different disciplines, the University has expanded the number
and scope of its research centers and institutes. The University will
continue to
Goal: Encourage selected interdisciplinary and collaborative
research programs.
Objectives
Review existing centers, institutes, and other
interdisciplinary activities inside the University and
expand, maintain, or discontinue as appropriate.
Increase support for key interdisciplinary activities.
Develop methods for negotiating partnerships with
other educational institutions in the region.
Another key aspect of the research mission of the University is the
contribution it makes to the economic development of business and
industry. This is done several ways: through the development of human
resources (i.e., the advanced-training of professionals); through long-term,
sustained, basic research programs, some of which will lead to
breakthroughs; and through consulting and direct transfer of
expertise/technology. To support economic development, the University
will
Goal: Focus selected research programs (and associated
graduate programming) on the needs of local
communities, urban and rural regions, and statewide
problems.
Objectives
Assist departments in focusing research efforts in
applied areas that address educational, scientific,
social, and technological needs.
Review the reward/incentive structure to ensure that
needs-directed scholarship is adequately recognized
by academic units.
Encourage faculty to participate as partners to
help communities in economic development, social
change, and quality of life improvement through
applications and dissemination of relevant
knowledge and recent research, as well as through
technology transfer.