FACULTY SENATE RESEARCH PROGRAMS AND POLICIES COMMITTEE (RPPC)
PURPOSE AND SPRING 2011 GRANT SELECTIONS
by Professor Marina Angel, Chair RPPC
RPPC is composed of 10 Faculty members, 4 elected by the Faculty Senate and 6 appointed by the Faculty Senate Steering Committee. All are dedicated teachers and researchers from throughout the University, and several participate in deciding multi-million dollar NIH grants.
Originally RPPC was funded at only $50,000. Provost Lisa raised the amount to $75,000. This year we had only $75,000 to distribute university-wide for Seed Money grants which are meant to help researchers further developed materials and pilot studies suitable for submission to major grant authorities. At the same time that Provost Lisa gave us an additional $25,000, she established her own “Faculty” Committee to distribute Seed Money Grants of up to $50,000 per grant. Her grants continued for 2 years. When she left, her $50,000 grants per applicant were discontinued by the current Interim Provost. Some Administrators are supposed to be on RPPC, but they never participate.
RPPC is now the only university-wide source of Seed Money. This academic year Interim Provost Richard Englert and Senior Vice Provost for Research and Graduate Education Kenneth Blank told me that they were cutting RPPC back to the original $50,000. After discussion, they agreed to continue the $75,000 amount for this year only. Given that this is the only source of Seed Money open to the entire University, and that, by definition, it aims to enable researchers to bring additional funds into the University, I have taken the position that we should be raised to the level of funding that Provost Lisa was distributing. I had earlier offered to add some administration appointees to RPPC.
RPPC’s full charge is
To develop policy on all matters related to research, and to review and ratify any proposed changes in policy and programs. The committee has responsibility and authority for presenting faculty interest on all matters involving University research policies and activities.
The University has not consulted with RPPC in at least the past 5 years “on all matters related to research.” At our initiative this year, one of our members, Dennis Silage, a long time Temple professor and successful researcher, has been meeting periodically with Dr. Blank. The University Administration does not seem to understand the value of including experienced and successful researchers in policy making on research programs. We hope this will change in the future.
Currently, RPPC’s sole function has been to be to distribute a total of $75,000 from the Faculty Senate Seed Money Fund (FSSMF) over the course of the academic year. This small amount provides funding to full-time faculty for scholarly and creative research activities and projects. The grants are expected to assist a few faculty members to attract external funding and recognition to Temple.
We thank the eighteen faculty members who submitted proposals to us this Spring Semester. Temple has a wealth of talented and innovative faculty in its schools and colleges. We had to make hard choices, because our funding is so limited. The seven faculty members listed below received six grants, one was a joint inter-disciplinary application. All were unanimously selected by RPPC to receive grant money to further their research efforts.
RPPC makes grants twice a year, once at the end of the Fall Semester and once at the end of the Spring Semester.
The Fall 2011 notices and forms will be posted approximately three weeks into the Fall Semester for those faculty interested in applying. Applicants please make sure to use our new forms. As soon as an applicant determines s/he might apply for an FSSMF grant, please consult your Associate or Assistant Dean of Research to determine the deadlines in your college. That individual will help you with your application and make sure your application is complete.
