Bridging the Silos: Creating Sustainable Research Infrastructure with Implications for Digital Scholarship - presentation given at the Educause Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference Jan 2010, Baltimore MD. Referenced by inside higher ed here: http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2010/01/18/silos

1. Bridging the Silos Creating sustainable research infrastructure with implications for digital scholarship Educause MARC 2010Baltimore MD January 15, 2010

2. 2 Who we are Rosemary Wander Vice-Provost for Graduate Studies and Research Bill DeLone Director, Center for Research, Teaching and Learning Bill Mayer University Librarian

3. Roadmap for Today Setting the Stage Current environment for research at AU Understanding the “Strong College” model Seizing the opportunities New leadership = moments for movement New strategic plan New focus on faculty development Making change happen Redefining the role of research at AU Building the infrastructure we need 3

4. Setting the Stage Private, coeducational, liberal arts curriculum, doctoral institution 4 SchoolsCollege of Arts and SciencesKogod School of BusinessSchool of CommunicationSchool of International ServiceSchool of Public AffairsWashington College of Law 591 full time Faculty Student-Faculty Ratio =14:1 Class Size Average22.5 for UG courses16.9 for graduate coursesEnrollment (Fall 2008)Undergraduate: 6,023Graduate: 3,297Law: 1,667Non-degree, certificate, Washington Semester, AU Abroad: 1,19911 Academic ProgramsBachelor’s: 57Master’s: 51Doctoral: 9 A few more joint degrees and certificate programs

5. The Strong College Model Recognizes local strengths of each academic unit Allows for increased flexibility within an academic unit Highlights specific communities of learning based in academic units 5

6. The Strong College Model Endorses silos Confuses collaboration Develops decentralized functions Fragments core IT systems 6 How can this change?

8. New Provost

9. New CIO

10. New University Librarian

12. Vice-Provost for Undergraduate Studies7

13. Seizing the Opportunities New President in 2007 – Dr. Cornelius Kerwin New Strategic Plan Developed by cross-campus committee with input from faculty, staff, students, administrators and alums Approved by Board of Trustees – Nov. 2008 Strategic plan is the organizational guiding force for next decade 8

14. Key elements of Strategic Plan Goal 1: Epitomize the Scholar-Teacher Ideal “Our faculty will epitomize the ideal of the scholar-teacher by blending research, teaching, and service into an inspiring whole. They will influence their fields with respected scholarly, creative, and professional work; inspire students to attain the highest levels of excellence; and raise the university’s academic stature to new heights.” Goal 3: Demonstrate distinction in graduate, professional and legal studies “….we will be known as a world-class institution for legal and advanced graduate studies” Goal 4: Engage the Great Ideas and Issues of Our Time through Research, Centers, and Institutes “… Our strong interdisciplinaryfocus will be enhanced by our centers and institutes, many of which engage in the great issues of our time. …we attract external funding for research, nurture our faculty’s professional growth, and maximize our potential through interdisciplinary work, ..” Six Enabling goals include Employ technology to empower excellence Enhance University Library and research infrastructure 9

15. Strategic Plan Implementation Two year budget aligned to strategic plan and approved by Board of Trustees, February 2009 University units develop actions steps and measures New position - Vice Provost of Graduate Studies and Research – filled Community building event - All faculty retreat – initiated, fall 2008, 2009 Mission for the Center for Teaching Excellence expanded to include Research 10

16. Making Change Happen New directions for research, scholarship, and creative activities New vigor to research infrastructure 11 Research trip to Galapagos Islands with faculty from 3 disciplines

17. New directions for research, scholarship, and creative activities Research is responsibility of all faculty New hires bring to or have the potential to create a strong research program Extramural funding is highly valued Competitive start-up packages are offered Research clusters provide a supportive, mentoring environment for faculty 12

18. New vigor to research infrastructure Created Research and Grants Infrastructure Task Force Offering workshops on grant writing Bringing program officers from funding agencies to campus Updating research-related compliance support, e.g., using humans and animals in research Established a Technology Transfer Office Establishing a competitive program to support graduate student research 13

19. IT-based research tools Research administration enterprise system Faculty electronic annual reporting system Electronic submission of theses and dissertations Institutional Repository for access and preservation 14

20. Center for Teaching, Research and Learning Mission To facilitate, support and celebrate excellence in teaching, research, learning, and academic leadership. Works collaboratively with the Vice Provost for Graduate Studies and Research Supports research software and computing labs Provides faculty networking opportunities Junior faculty forum – Nov. 2009 Ann Ferren Teaching Conference with research component – January 2010 Manages Faculty Corner Supports collaborative technologies: Blackboard and Wimba 15

21. Academic Technology Changes Established Academic Technology Steering Committee for enterprise planning and decision-making Committee includes CTRL, Library, Vice Provost for Graduate Studies and Research, Office of Information Technology, faculty/IT staff from 6 colleges and schools “…will help guide and promote the use of technology for instruction, research and academic needs throughout the University…” 16

22. Guiding Principle We are building a community of teacher-scholars Everyone contributes to the changes that are happening 17