RESEARCH COUNCIL MINUTES

                              October 9, 1995


Attendees:  Bill Blass, Chair, Jim Adcock, Gayle Baker,
Larry Bell, David Bemis, Mike Devine, David Dobbs, Ham
Bozdogan, Burt English, Pat Fisher, Dorothy Habel, Kim
Jensen, Michael Keene, Dennie Kelley, Lori Kincaid,
Andrew Kramer, Ravi Krishnan, Lillian Mashburn, Ted
Paludan, Michael Singletary, Phyllis Tobler, Ken
Walker, Carolyn Webb, Jodie Wehr, and Earl Wehry. 
Special guests:  Jan Allen, Bill Snyder, and Olga
Welch.

NOTE:  The next Research Council meeting will be on
Monday, November 13 at 3:30 p.m. in the 8th Floor Board
Room, Andy Holt Tower.

Bill Blass invited Chancellor Bill Snyder to share some
of his perspectives with the Research Council.  Snyder
stated that he wanted to re-affirm the essential role
that research plays at the University of Tennessee,
Knoxville.  Snyder felt that changes at the federal
level will have an impact on research that will cause
us to look for alternative sources of research funding. 
Relationships with the corporate sector is one
alternative. Issues relating to intellectual property
will need to be addressed.  Snyder has proposed
changing the title of the Associate Vice Chancellor for
Research to Vice Chancellor.  This will not be a new
position but rather a change in a current title
resulting in a change in reporting line.  This change
will facilitate the direct involvement of the
Chancellor with the Vice Chancellor for Research.

Bill Blass introduced two visitors to the Council. 
Olga Welch, Professor, Rehabilitation and Deafness
Program and Dr. Jan Allen, Associate Professor, Child
and Family Studies.  Welch and Allen are co-chairs of
the Faculty Senate Teaching Council.  Blass proposes a
new Research and Teaching Council Joint Committee on
Issues.

Bill Blass stated that assignments to the standing
committees (enclosed) were made by his assessment of
their interests.  To determine this he used the Faculty
Information Service (FIS).  He discovered that only
eight out of the twenty-five members were listed in the
FIS.  He encouraged all members to complete a FIS form. 
Mike Keene mentioned that he has submitted his form and
his entry was still not listed.  ORA will look into
this problem. Blass stressed that members who wanted to
be reassigned please let him know.  Jim Adcock, chair
of the Policies and Procedures Standing Committee
requested input from Devine and other council members
on what issues should be addressed.  Blass created two
"special panels" - the Chancellor Research Awards and
the SARIF: Summer Special Research Assistants since
these awards are only a made once a year.

Bill Blass introduced Mike Devine, the newly appointed
Associate Vice Chancellor for Research.  Devine
received his Ph.D. in Engineering and a B.S. in Physics
from the University of Texas.  Previously he was a
professor of industrial engineering at the University
of Oklahoma.  Prior to coming to UT he was the
Associate Vice President for Research at Florida State
University and also the Director of the Washington
Internships for Students of Engineering (WISE) program. 
Devine stated that the research environment at UT faces
some challenges mainly due to the changing federal
research climate.  Since the  1950's federally funded
research at universities has increased 1300% but now
will probably just stay even.  He felt the climate in
Tennessee was relative good despite social problems
(i.e., health, K-12 education, and prisons).  He stated
that we needed to re-prioritize the research agenda
during this period of no growth but also still
aggressively pursue outside funding.  Devine discussed
some high priorities for ORA and would welcome input
from the Research Council.

1.   Increase seed money and matching money.  Since Dr.
     John Peters arrived research incentive funds have
     increased by $500,000 but this is still not
     adequate.

2.   Improve administrative processes.  One example
     would be the payroll system.  There are many
     problems related to researchers, their programs,
     and their employees.  The paperwork is
     overwhelming, but there will not be an easy
     solution to the problem.  This issue will be
     discussed with Vice Chancellor Ray Hamilton.

3.   Work with the UT Research Corporation to improve
     the technology transfer program.

4.   Enhance research collaborations with industry. 
     Industry will not replace federally funded
     research.  Collaborations may start informally,
     i.e., co-ops with students, sharing of researchers,
     etc.

5.   Give recognition to the research of faculty.  One
     way to do this is by publishing a research
     magazine.

6.   Address research space and research equipment. 
     Many programs are funded but no space has been
     provided.

Devine stated that the Office of Research
Administration is in very good shape, but there has
been a loss of a few employees in the Research
Advancement Group.  Ralph Dosser left to work at CNN,
Jane Farris left to attend law school, and Tom
Garritano has accepted the position of Director of
Research Services, formally held by Greg Cole.

Ken Walker stated that the EPPE and GRA SARIF programs
have been very successful.  Attached are spreadsheets
of recent awards.  Walker announced NSF Day on
Wednesday, October 18.  He said these workshops would
be broad in scope.  Faculty should encourage their
graduate students and postdoctoral fellows to attend. 
The ORA Web Page lists up-to-date information on NSF
Day along with short bios of the NSF presenters.

The change in the title of Associate Vice Chancellor
for Research to Vice Chancellor for Research was
discussed.  Blass stated that since UTK is a major
research institution (the only public institution in
Tennessee that is classified as Carnegie I) and since
many chief research officers at peer institutions
report to a chancellor or president, it makes sense for
UTK's chief research officer to report directly to the
Chancellor.  This would encourage strong coordination
and communication between the two offices.  Earl Wehry
asked what operational effects this would have and also
whether the title of Associate Vice Chancellor for the
Graduate School would also be changed.   Ken answered
that he was not aware of any change in the Graduate
School and that the main change would be that the Vice
Chancellor could carry his concerns directly to the
Chancellor rather than following the current reporting
chain through the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. 
In addition, the VC Research would be a
member of the Chancellor's staff and attend the
Chancellor's staff meetings.  Mike Singletary stated
that the Chancellor looks "outward" of the University,
while the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs looks
"inward" and it makes more sense for ORA to report
directly to the Chancellor.

Bill Blass provided members with a copy of the draft
Faculty Handbook.  Any recommendations or changes
should be brought before the Research Council. A copy
of the UTK Research Information and Policy Manual was
also given to each member.  Any suggestions for changes
can be sent to ORA.  (Both of these documents are
enclosed).

Gayle Baker, Chair of the Web Page Ad Hoc Committee,
requested that council members send her e-mail on
suggestions for a Web Page.  She will provide an
outline at the next meeting.  Baker will discuss the
Current Contents project at the next meeting.

Adjournment:  5:00 PM

NOTE:  Future meetings are scheduled for November 13,
December 4, 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.