RESEARCH COUNCIL MINUTES

November 12, 2001

Attendees: Gayle Baker (Co-Vice Chair), David Bassett, Doug Birdwell (Chair), Bill Blass (Co-Vice Chair), David Buehler, Chris Cox, Denny Dukes, Arlene Garrison, Maureen Groer, Joanne Hall, Thomas Handler, Marion Hansen, Jon Levin, Carol Malkemus, Bonnie Ownley, Ian Rockett, David Schumann, Susan Smith, C.A. Speer, Elizabeth Sutherland, Gretchen Whitney

• Introductory Remarks:

  • Chair Doug Birdwell opened the meeting. The minutes of the October meeting were approved as read.

  • Arlene Garrison, speaking on behalf of Dr. Alfonso, told of the success of the first research seminar on October 17 and stated that future seminars are to be on compliance, ORNL, federal relations, and intellectual capital/property. She updated the Council on job searches in the Office of Research, including the position of Assistant Vice President, currently awaiting permission to advertise.

• Campus Information Assurance Issues (Rodney Meryweather, Senior Security & Data Recovery Manager): Mr. Meryweather presented an overview of the security architecture for the University. He then reviewed the three phases of the UT Information Systems, which include training, assessment, policies and procedures, and security software and equipment testing and evaluation. (For more information, see http://oit.utk.edu/infosec).

• Updates:
  • Federal Relations (Arlene Garrison for Lillian Mashburn):
    • Universities will be pressed to keep more accurate records on international students. Federal funds may be made available to help with the expenses of tracking.
    • There are new regulations for handling of particular materials. Garrison asked if Research Council had worked with compliance issues. Bill Blass responded that the Council has historically had little or nothing to do with compliance. Garrison asked that Research Council become more involved.
    • NSF received an 8.5% increase and the SNS was funded.

  • Task Forces (Doug Birdwell): Birdwell asked for volunteers to participate in the Faculty Senate Task Forces. Barbara Dewey is on the Professional Leave Task Force.

• Access to Bethel Valley Road @ ORNL (Doug Birdwell): The chair sent a letter to Billy Stair of ORNL listing concerns about access to ORNL for UT students and faculty with the closing down of public access to Bethel Valley Road. This new security measure will affect foreign nationals more acutely. Susan Smith related problems with changing security procedures for classes at ORNL. It was suggested that alternative locations off the ORNL reservation be sought for classes and workshops.

• Strategic Planning Group for Computing and Networking (Bill Blass): Bill Blass spoke of the importance for faculty input into ORIT planning and decision making involving information technology. Recent problems with information technology and computing were briefly discussed. The Council reviewed and recommended some changes to a draft motion for the next meeting of Faculty Senate to create a Strategic Planning Group for Computing and Networking.

• IRIS and Research Accounts (Doug Birdwell): Several problems with the new IRIS/SAP system have been reported which affect research, including late billing, problems tracking expenditures, etc. Dr. McCay may create an advisory group to review these problems. It is not clear whether the problems are due to lack of training or the SAP system. It was noted that departments have only been allowed to send one person to training.

Meeting adjourned at 5:15 p.m.