Research Council

Message from the Research Council Chair

Greetings from Ken Stephenson, Chair of the Research Council for 2010-2011.

The Research Council is a standing committee of the Faculty Senate intended to promote and support the research mission of the University -- and we interpret "research" in the broadest sense of research, both funded and unfunded, creative achievement, academic scholarship, and research dissemination.

We act as an advisory body to the chief university officer for research and we co-administer certain activities of the Office of Research, but our principal goal is to facilitate communication between those doing the research, the faculty and graduate students, and those who guide, fund, and administer it.

We are at a critical juncture in the University's life. Faced with unprecedented funding cuts, there is no question that decisions taken this year -- basically, the allocation of those cuts -- will shape the University for years to come. Those advocating for our research and graduate education programs must remain vigilant, continually bringing the very cogent arguments for research before the administration. This is where the Research Council comes in -- it is crucial that those actually conducting research be directly involved during this very challenging year. We invite the input and participation of all those interested in advancing the research mission of the University.

Contact

Ken Stephenson, chair
Email: kstephe2@utk.edu