Fiscal Year 2022

Your Name (Point of Contact):

Cortney Castle Chavez

Email (Point of Contact):

cortneyc@nmsu.edu

Official Board Name:

University Research Council

New Official Board Name (if applicable):

Is this board being dissolved?:

No

Authorizing body or official:

BOR Policy

Type of Board:

Standing

Scope of Impact:

Campus

Board Purpose:

The University Research Council (URC) of New Mexico State University is a “stand alone” council established to foster research at the university. It serves as an advisory body to the Vice President for Research, and the Executive Vice President and Provost regarding research affairs. The URC provides leadership in fostering a culture of research and in enhancing the University's distinction in research, scholarship, and creative activities among faculty, staff, and students. The URC, in concert with the Office of the VPR, seeks to create and maintain a culturally-diverse and ethically-driven academic environment that promotes excellence in research through a university that:
• Acknowledges and celebrates innovation in research,
• Promotes and nurtures interdisciplinary research clusters and collaborative research partnerships as well as individual scholarly research,
• Sustains and maintains the founding core principles of the university,
• Advances collective representation among faculty, staff, and students to the administration through peer review of university funding programs and
• Supports the role of research in creating a university experience that enriches the lives of students, and helps them to become well-informed individuals, lifelong learners, engaged citizens, and productive employees and employers.

Board Authority:

Advisory to the VPR

Current Chair / Term Ends:

Christopher Sroka, Term ends 6/30/22

Describe the process for selecting the chair :

Nomination of a current URC member, either by a member or self-nomination. Votes are tallied confidentially and recorded by the VPR office in the minutes.

Incoming Chair / Term Begins (if applicable) :

New chair has not yet been elected

How are the chair and members appointed?:

Appointed by the Dean of each college

Are members subject to a term appointment (three years or less)?:

Yes

What university function/office is responsible for future appointments?:

College

What university office/function provides administrative support to this board or committee?:

VPR

How often will this board or committee meet?:

Monthly

Are there any requirements for the number of meetings to be held?:

No

In the past fiscal year, what accomplishments have been made? (if applicable):

1. Provided URC representation on other university committees, including CADRe, review of RPSP's, and University Budget Committee.
2. URC solicited applications for URC Awards for Exceptional Achievements in Creative and Scholarly Activity. Five volunteers from the URC reviewed applications and provided recommendations to VPR Cifuentes.
3. URC planned and organized the Research and Creativity Week which brought in over 200 abstracts of student presentations, both oral and posters. Keynote speakers, URC Awardee speakers, and many others. Musical artists and creative media were highlighted. 60 students winners received certificates and Amazon gift cards.