Vice president visits departments
Vice President of Research Brent Miller made the decision to visit each department on campus to see what support he can provide to improve the research at Utah State University.
“In the VP for Research Office, we want to help USU researchers be successful,” Miller said. “It takes an understanding of who the researchers are, what they are doing and what they need to advance their work. That’s why we have begun visiting research-oriented departments, to get better acquainted and to listen to what they need.”
Last fall, Miller said he held an open question and answer session for the research faculty at USU.
When a small number of faculty members showed up, Miller said he knew there were many concerns and questions that still needed to be addressed and decided to visit each department with the goal of providing support.
“We get to meet the research faculty on their own turf and really learn about what they are doing,” Miller said. “We go where they are and get a chance to see their environment.”
J. Clair Batty, head of the department of mechanical and aerospace engineering, said the visit has greatly benefited the department by recognizing the goal of making a USU degree more credible and marketable and worth more money.
“Our department really applauds what Brent Miller is doing,” Batty said. “I am very pleased that he is strengthening these lines of communication.”
In order to generate new knowledge, Batty said there are three things that are necessary: A world-class faculty, capable, bright students who are motivated and good facilities to utilize. To achieve all these aspects, Batty said the department needs more funding to accomplish all of the research goals that are set, which is now available on a case-by-case petition basis with the Research Office.
When Mark Healey, department head of animal, dairy and veterinary science received the call from Miller informing him he would be visiting, Healey said he thought it was “a great idea.”
The main goal of the departmental visits is to meet the faculty members in person, learn about their research interests, and listen to their concerns and questions, Healey said.
As with several departmental concerns on campus, the funding seems to be the major dilemma is currently being faced.
“The budget cuts are a huge problem,” Healey said of the $150,000 that was recently cut from the ADVS department.
Miller said the financial situation at USU is “a very complex picture,” but hopes to reallocate the money from the facilities and administration fund so that it is used in the most effective way.
“Funding and how we use funding on campus is an important issue,” he said.
“The departmental visits have been really worthwhile and helpful to me in understanding the faculty needs,” Miller said. “They have motivated us to provide research support in different ways.”
Visits have already been made to the departments of animal, dairy, and veterinary sciences; chemistry and biochemistry, electrical and computer engineering; mechanical and aerospace engineering; nutrition and food sciences; psychology and physics.
Future visits include the biology department, computer science department and the plant, soils and biometeorology department.