July 1: Research study recommendations to be discussed

researchPULLMAN, Wash. – Comments are welcome online through Aug. 1 on the latest version of the 120-Day Study of the research enterprise at Washington State University. Meetings about the study recommendations will be July 1 and Sept. 2 in Pullman and other dates at the regional campuses.

Meanwhile, faculty members are encouraged to participate in teams that are being organized in alignment with the five Grand Challenges identified in the study.

The study is intended to help WSU best prioritize and implement major research investments consistent with the Grand Challenges and recommendations. Outcomes include five Grand Challenges that are being used to define, focus, communicate and advocate for WSU research agendas. The study also includes 19 recommendations to maintain and improve the WSU research enterprise.

The latest versions of the study and the Grand Challenges, including a link for appendices and a place for comments, can be found at https://myresearch.wsu.edu/StudyReportComments.aspx.

The inaugural round-robin conversation about the Grand Challenges and research recommendations will be 9-10:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 1, in FSHN T101. Light refreshments will be served. Please RSVP to or.120daystudy@wsu.edu. A town hall meeting on the Pullman campus will be 2-3 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 2, location to be announced. Town hall meetings on the urban campuses will be announced.

Faculty are asked to consider participating in identifying the kinds of research to pursue in alignment with the Grand Challenges, candidates for good leads and collaborators both within WSU and among external partners, and potential funding opportunities that could be pursued.

The 120–Day Study surveyed and documented the status of WSU’s research enterprise. The effort identified areas of excellence and emerging areas requiring additional investment to achieve national and international prominence.

The result was an intensive process with 141 study participants working together September-December 2014. The collaborative effort elicited over 100 comments from study participants and the university community.

The 450–page draft report serves, in part, as a compilation of information on WSU research.

Please address questions or concerns to:
•  Christopher J. Keane, WSU vice president of research, 509-335-3574, chris.keane@wsu.edu
•  Dan Nordquist, director of the WSU Office of Research/Office of Grant and Research Development, 509-335-7717, nordquist@wsu.edu
•  Richard Zack, WSU Faculty Senate chair, 509-335-3394, zack@wsu.edu