MUSC aspires to become premiere research institution

Funding for research at MUSC has increased dramatically during the past decade, and the strategic plan calls for extending those past accomplishments and developing programs in new, targeted fields of inquiry. At the same time, the university continues to respect and support the entrepreneurial spirit of individual investigators in its effort to become a premier research institution.

Jim Norris, Ph.D., chairs the University Research Resources Facility Committee, which is reviewing policies suggested by the University Planning Committee, including allocation of research resources to assure efficient utilization, shared facilities, and information technology (IT). Policies exist on the first two types of resource, and associate provost C. Frank Starmer, Ph.D., is developing the IT policy. The impact of all policies, new and old, on costs to the university is being considered as part of a number of studies being undertaken this year (for example, the indirect cost study and the University Facilities Master Planning initiative).

Research laboratory space is in high demand since funded research has been growing so rapidly. Even the recently completed Strom Thurmond/Gazes Research Building has not taken the pressure off the space issue. The university has obtained necessary approvals to add another 100,000 net square feet of research space in a new facility. Further design work is proceeding. The newly initiated University Facilities Master Plan will address research space needs. A College of Medicine space committee has reviewed data on allocation of space and has provided guidelines to assess utilization of research space. A small group of department chairs will recommend broad-based space allocation space policy to resolve pressing research facility issues.

The university is embarking on a major indirect cost study that will affect several of the research strategies regarding resource allocation. Here and elsewhere, infrastructure maintenance (including buildings and equipment) has not kept pace with research needs. Capital space needs and major equipment purchases as well as maintenance will be among the deliberations of the master planning group.

Rosalie Crouch, Ph.D., associate provost for research, and MUSC provost Ray Greenberg, M.D., Ph.D., have worked with each college to appoint a peer advisory group to review research strengths and identify opportunities for enhancement. Several of these groups have met already.

Coordination of pre- and post-award research administration is a priority for the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs and the Office of Grants and Contracts Accounting. Another important aspect of research administration is the new cost accounting standards, as reported by Tom Higerd, Ph.D., in The Catalyst during the past two months. The transition to SmartStream has provided more challenges than anticipated, but progress continues. Dillard Marshall and David Welch are working together to improve the coordination of research administration.

What's been done and what needs to be done

MUSC's Board of Trustees approved the first institution-wide University Strategic Plan last October, just one year after the University Planning Committee began its deliberations.

The plan seeks more interdisciplinary programs and central coordination of activities for the university to respond effectively to changes in education, research, and clinical service. It emphasizes the interdependence of these three mission areas and the need to develop and maintain better relationships with the community, locally and throughout the state and nation.

Since approval of the plan, which directs the university's progress for the next five years, MUSC faculty, administrators and employees have been working to meet its education, research, and clinical service objectives. One of the first steps in implementing the plan was communicating it to its constituents.

Last summer, The Catalyst published drafts of the strategies for comment by faculty, students, and staff. A draft was shared with the Visiting Committee, and the members of that committee recommended adding the fourth section on implementation. Board approval was announced in The Catalyst, along with the plan's Internet address. Thomas Higerd, Ph.D., chair of the University Planning Committee, presented the plan at faculty meetings for the colleges of Dental Medicine, Health Professions, Nursing, and Pharmacy. The plan itself can be found on the MUSC Homepage at <http://www.musc.edu/plan/index.html> or a paper copy may be ordered by calling 792-1646.

Priorities

President's Council was responsible for setting priorities among the strategies delineated in the plan. In March, the council decided to make the strategies with 1998 target dates top priority for this year. The University Planning Committee had identified target dates for most of the objectives and strategies in the plan. Most of the activities targeted for the first half of 1998 have been completed.