7.B Scholarship and Research Support for Faculty

The University provides support on a number of levels to faculty engaged in research, scholarship, and other creative work at the University.

Both informal and formal collaborations with faculty colleagues can be important sources of support for research and scholarly initiatives. In addition, department chairs have an important role in fostering the research, scholarship, and other creative activities of faculty members through a variety of activities, including support for proposal development. Department chairs have a formal role in the project proposal process by certifying the allocation of space and effort for faculty when they are submitting a proposal for external funding.

Most schools and colleges at the University employ an individual whose duties include enhancement of the research, scholarship, and other creative activities of the faculty members in the school or college. Sometimes this individual is a research associate dean (RAD); in other instances, these responsibilities are assigned to the director of a research unit within the school or college. These unit administrators help explore and develop new opportunities for faculty work, maintain and expand the infrastructure, approve cost-sharing commitments, establish policies concerning some aspects of scholarly activity, and assist with other aspects of project development and administration. Faculty contemplating the development of proposals for University or external funding should begin their exploration of funding sources by consulting the appropriate unit administrator. For the name of a unit’s RAD or research administrator, consult the UM Research website listed in Section 7.A, or contact the appropriate dean’s office.

Business services for sponsored projects are provided by Financial Operations, which are offices reporting to the University Controller and under the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Financial Operations establishes accounts to assist with the orderly expenditure of funds from internal or external sources and provides regular statements of accounts. Details about the functions, procedures, and staffing of the Sponsored Programs section of Financial Operations are available from its website: <www.umich.edu/~finops> or by phone (764-8204) or fax (647-1932).

DRDA assists faculty and staff members in all aspects of externally funded research projects and other scholarly activities, including the identification of a potential sponsor and preparation of a proposal, assistance with various administrative issues that may arise during the course of the project, and submission of the closing documents. DRDA project representatives serve as liaisons with specific groups of sponsors. In this way, they can keep apprised of agency policies and programs in technical, scientific, and scholarly fields and can devote attention to the specific requirements of the sponsoring agencies. DRDA is located in Wolverine Tower, 3003 South State, First Floor (phone: 764-5500; fax: 764-8510).

The Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) promotes and advocates for research, scholarship, and other creative activity; supports the development of infrastructure and administrative systems; and establishes policy guidelines for conduct of research and scholarly activity at the University. OVPR staff in Washington, D.C., monitor Congressional and agency activity and budgets, provide assistance in identifying emerging research initiatives, assist faculty who wish to interact with elected officials and federal policy-makers, and meet with faculty who have questions and concerns on funding and policy issues. The Vice President for Research has primary responsibility for overseeing research policy development, administering externally sponsored activities by faculty members as authorized by Bylaw 2.07, and guiding any misconduct investigations that may be required. The Vice President for Research also provides administrative oversight of several research and internal service units. The Biophysics Research Division and the Institute for Research on Women and Gender are examples of research units; the Division of Research Development and Administration and the Center for Statistical Consultation and Research (CSCAR) are examples of internal service units. The Office of the Vice President for Research is located at 4080 Fleming Building (phone: 764-1185; fax: 763-0085).

Faculty members serve on several committees that advise the Vice President for Research in formulation of policy or administration of research and scholarship, including Biological Research Review Committee (BRRC), Conflict of Interest Review Committee, Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) for Human Subject Research, Research Computing Advisory Committee (RCAC), OVPR Advisory Council, Research Policies Committee (RPC), and the University Committee on Use and Care of Animals. Membership of these committees and their functions are provided at the UM Research website through the "Who We Are/OVPR Advisory Bodies" link.