W. Va. Code R. § 133-48-5

Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 50, December 13, 2024

Section 133-48-5 - Institutional Research Plans

5.1. Prior to disbursement of any trust fund moneys to a participating institution, the governing board of that participating institution shall submit to the Commission a directed research endowment plan. The plan shall provide the Commission with an explanation of the institution's comprehensive research objectives and plans to build competitive research infrastructure in the specified scientific disciplines as well as comprehensive measures for achieving this goal.

5.2. The Commission encourages the participating institutions to consider the value of clustering research programs around academic disciplines and encourages the creation of a critical mass of scholarly researchers who can address state and national needs.

5.3. The Commission encourages collaboration and cooperation among universities, centers, corporations and federal laboratories that increase opportunities for partnerships in discovery, learning and knowledge creation.

5.4. The Commission encourages institutions to plan for endowments that recognize interdisciplinary problem solving and teams of scientists across departmental, college and institutional lines.

5.5. The research plan will include, but is not limited to, the following:

5.5.a. An assessment of the participating institution's current research initiatives in STEM fields, including any initiatives falling within disciplines or areas of research specified by this rule;

5.5.b. An assessment of the potential outcomes of specific research lines proposed for enhancement by the institution;

5.5.c. A narrative describing the current or proposed collaborations, particularly with other institutional partners, that play or will play a significant collaborative role in achieving institutional objectives;

5.5.d. A narrative describing the centers, institutes or other academic units proposed, currently under development, or currently operating, that play or will play a significant role in achieving institutional research objectives;

5.5.e. An analysis of possible strategies to enhance current research initiatives;

5.5.f. An outline of the participating institution's proposed uses of endowment proceeds, including the anticipated costs associated with each proposed use and identification of any specific disciplinary hires;

5.5.g. A narrative describing major research equipment acquisitions currently under consideration that will contribute substantially to the plan;

5.5.h. A cost analysis for achieving research goals with a comparison to the expected endowment proceeds available to the institution;

5.5.i. An evaluation of how the research plan furthers the purposes of:

5.5.i.1. The trust fund's goals;

5.5.i.2. The state's strategic plan for science and technology; and

5.5.i.3. The research needs of the institution.

5.5.j. Identification of the proposed uses for which alternative funding sources may be sought to enhance the comprehensive research initiatives contemplated by the participating institution. Alternative funding sources exclude qualified donations, matching moneys from the trust fund, and the endowment proceeds generated from the trust fund; and

5.5.k. How the amount allocated for distribution to the participating institution will be directed within institutional goals.

5.6. The governing board of each participating institution shall submit its approved research plan to the Vice Chancellor prior to submitting its first request for a distribution of matching moneys from the trust fund.

5.7. The Vice Chancellor shall conduct a thorough review of the plan for compliance with the provisions of § 18B-18A-1et seq. and this rule.

5.8. The approved plan serves as the overarching document for guiding future endowment activities, research investments and reports.

W. Va. Code R. § 133-48-5