RESEARCH COUNCIL MINUTES

                             December 4, 1995


Attendees:  Bill Blass, Chair, Jim Adcock, Gayle Baker, David
Bemis, Bobby Bledsoe, Chris Cox, Mike Devine, David Dobbs, Pat
Fisher, Michael Gant, John Gaventa, Dottie Habel, Kim Jensen,
Dennie Kelley, Lori Kincaid, Andrew Kramer, Ben Oliver, Steve
Pulik, Larry Ratner, Phyllis Turner, Ken Walker, Carolyn Webb,
Jodie Wehr, and Earl Wehry.

Guest:  John Jarrard, Director, Computing and Administrative
Systems.

NOTE:  The next Research Council meeting will be on Monday,
January 29, at 3:30 p.m. in the 8th Floor Board Room, Andy Holt
Tower.


Comments from Mike Devine:  Devine clarified Ken Walker's
position within the Office of Research.  Walker started in OR in
a 50% time three-year term position.  It was increased to 75%
time when Devine arrived at UTK in August 1995, and recently
changed to a 100% time term position.  Walker will continue in
this term position for two more years.  Devine stressed that this
was not a permanent appointment and that a search would begin in
a year to fill the position according to Affirmative Action
guidelines.

Comments from Ken Walker:  Walker discussed the National Research
Council's study on doctoral programs (excerpts from Research-
Doctorate Programs in the United States:  Continuity and Change
are attached).  The NRC ranks doctoral programs once every ten
years.  These are perceptual rankings that are obtained by
sending out 400-500 questionnaires to Universities that meet
criteria determined by NRC.  Dr. Marian Moffett, Associate to the
Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, has included her notes on
the full report.  The report is available on the WWW and a copy
is available in OR.  While some departments have specific plans
and goals for their programs, Larry Ratner suggested that the
Council make recommendations on what needs to be done
institutionally to increase UTK's Ph.D. programs.  David Dobbs
stated that being better is good but it is not the only thing in
rating a doctoral program.  Some departments have internal goals
for their Ph.D. programs that are not clearly visible.  Pat
Fisher would like to see a comparison of UTK to its peer
institutions.

Presentation by John Jarrard:  John Jarrard was invited to
discuss the VMS to Unix migration and DII cost models.  Jarrard
stated that the change in the Division of Information and
Infrastructure was the single most massive reorganization at UTK,
involving over 400 people and resulting in increased performance. 
The office of Computing and Administrative Systems (CAS) has been
in existence for five months.  The change in the organization has
led to a distributed computing environment.  The deadline to
complete the VMS migration to Unix is June 30, 1996. 
Administrative systems will also eventually be migrated to Unix
environment.  CAS has held two user forums each attended by over
200 users.  Two more forums will be held during spring semester
along with workshops to address specific problems.  Users who
have VMS accounts will automatically have Unix accounts created. 
There is a Research Technology Team setup to assist high-end
users with the migration.  How central computing should be funded
is currently being discussed in DII.  Questions such as should it
be funded centrally similar to the Library or setup like
Telephone Services are being addressed.  Ratner suggested that
the Council provide some recommendations to the committee
discussing cost models.  

Jim Adcock asked where the University stands on getting the fiber
optics installed and having the entire campus wired.  Jarrard
responded that Ed Mahon, Director, Network Service, is installing
60-80 ports a month.  A proposal will be presented to the Board
on how to fund the continuation of network connectivity on
campus.

Chancellor's Research Awards:  Michael Gant discussed the issue
of eligibility requirements for the Chancellor's Awards for
Research and Creative Activity.  The subcommittee discussed via
e-mail, along with Chancellor Bill Snyder, what percentage of an
appointment a faculty member had to have in order to be eligible
for this award.  Kim Jensen stated that if a 50% time appointment
was made mandatory it would make most faculty ineligible at the
Agricultural Institute since their appointments are constantly
changing.   After substantial discussion by the Council it was
motioned that "to be eligible for the Chancellor's Research
Award, nominees must normally have a 50% appointment at UTK". 
The motion was seconded by Ratner and approved of unanimously by
the Council.

Performance Funding:  Mike Devine provided the Council with
information concerning performance funding at UTK (attached). 
The Performance Funding Annual Report for 1994-95 includes goals
on how to improve the research mission at the University.  Devine
pointed out that UTK lost $800,000 last year since they fell
below their goals.  The measures used in the five-year period
FY93-FY97 cannot be changed but it could be argued to change the
goals.  Since the goals are set by UTK, it makes sense to set
goals that can be met.  If goals are exceeded it does nothing in
relation to funding, but if goals are not met it hurts the
University financially.  It was suggested that the Council assist
in reviewing the measures and goals in the future.  David Dobbs
commented that he collaborates with other institutions and is
provided with travel funds and living expenses but that these
funds are not reported to UTK.  Chris Cox said that when the
Office of Research is notified of such "awards" they are put into
the database and would then be counted.  Devine commented that OR
is working on revising the goals since the environment has
changed so much since they were set.  In the future, new
measures, such as counting faculty with active projects rather
the number of faculty receiving funding, will be explored. 
Dottie Habel agreed that the goals should be changed especially
since faculty (specifically in the arts and humanities) are no
longer seeking support from the National Endowment for the Arts
since it is seen as a liability for obtaining grant money from
other agencies.

Comments by Ken Walker:  Despite the fact that the Office of
Research now reports directly to the Chancellor, it will still
have close involvement with the Office of Academic Affairs. 
Walker is working with Linda Maxson on how to increase
undergraduate involvement in research.  Ratner commented that
this can be done by increasing the number of honors programs. 
Devine commented that increasing the number of undergraduates
involved in research was a performance funding measure and has
increased over the past three years.

Walker stated that there is a lot of analytical equipment (i.e.,
mass spectrometers) on campus that may have spare capacity. In
addition, there are instruments which only very few persons know
about.  He plans to devise an analytical equipment inventory
which may facilitate increased productive use of such equipment. 

Research Council Web Page:  Gayle Baker has received some
suggestions for items for a Web Page (attached).  Walker stated
that the Council Web Page can reside on "deep13".

Policy and Procedures Committee:  Jim Adcock distributed an
agenda for the Policy and Procedure Committee.  He requested help
in prioritizing the agenda.

Remaining agenda items will be tabled until the January meeting. 
Bill Blass would like to include on the next agenda a discussion
of Technology Transfer and the WWW in order to educate research
faculty on issues relating to WWW publishing, patents, and
disclosures.  

Adjournment:  5:15 PM

NOTE:  Future meetings are scheduled for January 29, February 26,
March 25.  These meetings all take place in the 8th Floor Board
Room, AHT at 3:30 p.m.  The final luncheon meeting is planned for
April 29, 1996 at 11:30 a.m. at the Faculty Club.