Centres
Originating/ResponsibleDepartment: / Vice-President(ResearchandInternational)
Approval Authority: / ARC
DateofOriginalPolicy: / June2007
LastUpdated: / February 2013
MandatoryRevisionDate: / February 2018
Contact: / Vice-President(ResearchandInternational)
Policy:
Thispolicysetsoutdefinitionsandprinciplesforthecreation,rightsandresponsibilities, monitoringandreviewofCarleton’sUniversityResearchCentres (CURCs).
Purpose:
Theobjectiveof thispolicyis toensurethatCarletonUniversityResearchCentresreflectthe institutionalcommitmenttopromotecollaborativeeffortsamongresearchers, to facilitate connections with external partners and communities, andtomake visible themomentumindisciplinaryorinterdisciplinaryareasofresearchexcellence.ResearchCentresare valued by the University as they provide an indexof thedirection,vitality,creativityandinnovationof Carleton’sresearchcommunity, and provide the basis for building on our grassroots strengths.They are also of value to participating academic units, as faculty,students,visitingscholars,andcandidatesfor facultypositionsrecognizetheseResearchCentrestobe valuedandseriouscontributorsto CarletonUniversity’sscholarship.To have such valued impacts,Carletonmustbesystematic,coordinated,and transparentinhowitsCentresaremanaged, evaluated,andsupported.
Scope:
ThispolicyappliestoResearchCentresthatreportandareaccountabletotheOfficeof theVice- President(ResearchandInternational).
Procedure:
1.Definitionofa CarletonUniversityResearchCentre
AResearchCentreisaformallystructuredorganizationthatdoesnotcompriseadepartment, institute,school,orcollegewithintheuniversity,thatisestablishedwiththepurposeof advancing scholarlyactivityprimarilythroughcollaborativeand/orinterdisciplinaryresearch,student engagement,researchdissemination,knowledge mobilization,andoutreach.Ideally,aCURCwill provideuniqueopportunitiesforbothundergraduateandgraduatestudents to engage in the research endeavour,andis activelyinvolvedinknowledge mobilizationinrelevantforumsandcommunities.Themembers shouldcompriseacriticalmassofproductivejuniorandseniorresearchers.
ItshouldbeclearthatCURCsarenotintendedto reflect theworkofasinglefacultymemberorresearchlab,norbetiedtothelifeof asingleprojector fundinginitiative. Smaller collaborativeinitiatives that are limited to a single Faculty shouldberecognizedandsupported,but these are more appropriately accountabletotheirrespectiveFacultyDeans, andassuchwould beconsideredFacultyResearchCentres.Infact,manyresearchcollaborations do not requireanyformaldesignation,andtheUniversitycontinuestoencouragethe informalformationofgroupsofresearchcollaborators.
TherearetwoformsaCURCmaytake,wherein:
1.1 Membershipincludesabroad mixof researchersfrom at least twoUniversityFaculties and demonstrates a truly interdisciplinary research agenda.
And/Or
1.2 Membershipincludesabalanceof facultyfrom CarletonUniversity and a critical mass of members from sectors external to the University(e.g.,from thecommunity,industry,government,NFPs,orother academicinstitutions), reflecting activecollaborations across sectors or across institutions.
2.StructureofaCarletonUniversityResearchCentre
AllCURCsmusthaveagovernancestructure.Thescaleofthis structurewilldependonthescopeandnatureoftheCentre’sactivities.However,allResearch Centresmustidentifya Directorandan Advisory Board.
2.1TheDirectormustbea full-timefacultymemberor Distinguished Research Professor atCarletonUniversity.The Director is responsible for oversight of the CURC, reporting to the VPRI, monitoring activities, and sound financial management of the CURC. In addition to the Director, it is possible to appoint a co-Director who will share responsibility for the running of the CURC, or an Executive Director who is an expert in the field, but is not necessarily a full-time faculty member.
2.2A CURC will be governed by an Advisory Board comprised of representatives both from the community and researchers associated with the CURC,andwillincludeanexofficiomemberrepresentingOVPRI. Thespecifictermsof referenceof suchBoardsmayvary;however,thegeneralpurposeof theseBoardsis to
- receiveandreviewtheannualreportoftheDirector
- provideadviceandguidanceontheCentre’sactivitiesandprograms,includingstrategicplanning,andplansforseekingandevaluatingfundingrevenue
- overseefinancialexpenditures
3.Creating,MonitoringandReviewingCURCs
TheUniversityhasa responsibilitytoestablishappropriate criteriaandprocedurestoensuretherelevance, quality,andsustainabilityof itsResearchCentres.Applications forestablishingaCURCwillbereceivedandreviewedthroughout the year.Theexpectationis that CURCswillreflectexceptionalvaluetotheUniversity’sresearchprofile,andhence,should belimitedin numbers.
3.1Committeereview
CURCsareestablishedundertheauthorityoftheVice-President(ResearchandInternational) upontherecommendationoftheCarletonResearchAdvisorycommittee(CREAD).CREADwillreviewapplicationsforthecreationofCURCsintermsofwhethertheymeetthe definitionof aCURC,theiraddedvaluetotheinstitutionalresearchprofile,andtheir capacitytogenerateincreased researchmomentum that can be sustained over a 5-year period. CREAD will receive and reviewtheannualreports, in effectoverseeingthemonitoring and renewalofCURCs.
3.2Approvalprocess
OfficialrecognitionanddesignationofaCarletonUniversityResearchCentreis attheapprovalof theVice-President(ResearchandInternational),normallyontherecommendationof CREAD. CURC status will be granted for a maximum of a 5 yearrenewable term.
Proposalstoestablisha ResearchCentreshouldincludethefollowing:
3.2.1.NameofResearchCentre.
3.2.2.DescriptionandJustification.This includes
(a)aconcisestatementof themissionandresearchobjectives
(b)adescriptionof thescopeofactivitiesenvisaged
(c)thekeyoutcomesanticipated
(d) theresearchbenefitsandopportunitieslikelytoresultfrom the establishmentof theResearchCentre,includinghowtheproposed Centrewillfacilitatecollaborative research across disciplines,research partnerships across sectors and institutions, andwillprovidebenefitsfortrainingfutureresearchers.
3.2.3.GovernanceStructure. Please describe:
(a)theorganizationalstructureoftheproposedResearchCentre
(b)the constitution and membership of an Advisory Board
(c)the process by which members are engaged and consulted.
3.2.4.Members.Providea listingofthemembershipof the ResearchCentre.Foreachmember, please include anabbreviatedcurriculumvitae that indicatesdepartmental or organizational affiliation, title,any relevantprofessionalactivities,researchinterests,researchfundingrecord(lastfive years),andrecordofmajorresearchachievements(lastfiveyears).
3.2.5.Space.Please indicate anycurrentspace, if any,that is dedicated primarily for the core work of the CURC (i.e., this does not include the laboratories of individual researchers).
3.2.6.FinancialResources.Providea budgetforthefirstthree years,includinganticipatedrevenuefromallsources, expected annual operationcosts,aswellas plansforachievingsustainablefinancial self-sufficiencythroughexternalcostrecovery.
3.2.7.Statementsof SupportandCommitment.Anycommitmentsoragreementsto
providespace,teachingreleasetimeorotherresources,includingtherecoveryof indirect costsfromcontractresearch,shouldbedocumentedandlettersofsupportprovidedthat aresignedbythoseauthorizedtomakesuchcommitments.Intheabsenceof such statements,itwillbeassumedthatnosuchcommitmentsoragreementshavebeen made.
3.3Annualreporting
Onanannualbasis,CURCswillbeexpectedto submit,no laterthanJuly1,areportto the Director of theCarletonUniversityResearchOffice (CURO) for the period covering May 1 – April 30.A template for this report is posted on the Carleton University Research Office website. Annualreportswillbeusedto(1) review the extent of the research activity and financial viability of the CURC, (2) track metrics that allow the University to measure, report, and advocate with respect to our research intensiveness and impact, and (3) identifyopportunitiesfortheUniversitytofurther supporttheactivitiesof itsResearchCentres.
3.4Renewalprocess
On July 1 following or onthe5-year anniversary date of the CURC’s approval,an application for renewalshould besubmittedtothe Director of CURO. It will be incumbent upon the CURC to ensure that an application for renewal is submitted. If an application for renewal is not received, it will be assumed that CURC status is no longer necessary to advance the activities of the participating members, andthe CURC will be closed.
An application for renewal includes
3.4.1astatementof howtheCentrehasachieveditsoriginal researchobjectives.
3.4.2acurrentmembershiplist,includingthedesignateddirectorandmembersofthe AdvisoryBoard.
3.4.3a5-yearplanidentifyingobjectives, researchdirectionsand outreach activities.
3.4.4a5-yearfinancialplanidentifyingcontinuedfinancial commitments and expenditures, andpotentialsourcesofrevenue.
3.4.5lettersindicatingcontinuedresourcecommitmentstotheResearchCentrefrom appropriateChairs/DirectorsandDeans.
CREAD will evaluate the research and knowledge mobilization accomplishments of the CURC (which should be distinct from, or add value to, the research activities of the individual researchers), along with its plans for the next 5 year term, and on this basiswillmake a recommendationto the VPRIregarding the renewal of the CURC designation.
Anylegalor research agreements thataffectthestatusoftheCURCwillbetakenintoconsiderationintheformal recommendation.
4.RightsandObligationsofCarletonUniversityResearchCentres
ThroughtheestablishmentofCarletonUniversityResearchCentres,theUniversityis committed topromotingcollaborativeeffortsamongresearchers,andtohighlightingthevisibilityoftheCURCs inorderto enablefurtherresearch,training,partnerships,andfundingopportunities.This includes a percentage return on overhead collected on CURC projectsto support capacity building, and eligibility for competitive internal research funds targeted for research centres. In addition, the CURCs are regarded as a collective research community on campus, and have an advisory voice in the priorities, policies and planning of institutional research initiatives through representation on the CREAD committee, and ad hoc consultation opportunities.
Tomaintainstatusas aCURC,includingtheassociatedrightsandprivileges,theCURCmust continuetomeetthetermsof itsapproval,asdescribedin thispolicy.Inaddition,theDirectorof acentreshallhavetheobligationto ensurethatallcontractsandactivitiestobeundertakenbyoronbehalfoftheCURCare consistentwithUniversitypolicy,procedures,andregulations,includingthosepertaining tocontractoverhead.
Contacts:Director,CarletonUniversityResearchOffice
Linksto relatedPolicies:overhead policy at
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