NCSU Self-Study: Research, Outreach and Extension,ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE AND ORGANIZATION

ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE AND ORGANIZATION

Office of the Vice-Chancellor for Research, Outreach, and Extension

The Office of the Vice-Chancellor for Research, Outreach, and Extension is responsible for organizing, directing, and evaluating all activities carrying out NCSU's mission of research and service. The vice-chancellor for research, outreach, and extension acts for the chancellor in the general administration of the research, outreach, and extension activities of the University. The vice-chancellor's duties include acting as principal liaison representative between granting and extension agencies and the University; assisting members of the faculty and their department heads and deans in identifying support for their research and outreach programs, preparing and processing proposals, and developing intercollege and interinstitutional research, outreach, and extension programs and projects. The vice-chancellor acts as an advisor to the chancellor and provost on the coordination of intercollege and interinstitutional research, outreach, and extension programs and facilities. The Office of Research, Outreach, and Extension stimulates economic development through technology transfer, and develops collaborative relationships with government agencies, industry, and other institutions as appropriate.

The Office for Research, Outreach, and Extension was organized in 1992 by merging the formerly separate Divisions of University Extension, and Research Administration. This conscious shift in administrative orientation was consonant with NCSU's goal of establishing a continuum between discovery (research) and the application of new and existing knowledge to the needs of clients (outreach and extension). A total balance has not yet been achieved in the Office of the Vice-Chancellor of Research, Outreach, and Extension between research, and outreach and extension. The continuum between research and outreach has also not been fully achieved within the colleges and schools and the departments. Such a balance or continuum is essential to the success of NCSU in achieving its goal of preeminence in research, outreach, and extension. Focused attention is currently being given, however, to establishing equity of importance and treatment between research, and outreach and extension at both the university and college/school levels.

Recommendation 7.1: NCSU should evaluate the effectiveness of the Office for Research, Outreach, and Extension as a single administrative unit.

Such an evaluation should be conducted in academic year 1995-96 by a committee composed primarily of faculty with responsibilities in research, outreach, and extension with representatives from college-level administration in these areas. The evaluation should examine perceptions of the faculty, college administrators, and University administrators concerning the effectiveness of the Office of Research, Outreach, and Extension and the progress that has been made in fulfilling the written goals of the office in each area for which the Office of Research, Outreach, and Extension is responsible. The five-year program goals as provided in the 1993-1994 Annual Plan for the Office of Research, Outreach, and Extension are:

Strengthen the relationship among research, technology, outreach, and extension to ensure that knowledge created at NCSU benefits society.
Expand and establish sponsored programs, outreach and extension initiatives that target areas of greatest public need, without regard to disciplinary boundaries.
Document and convey the institutional effectiveness of research, outreach, and extension in serving the people of North Carolina.

Strengthening the continuum between research and outreach is essential if NCSU is to be a national leader in research, outreach, and extension. To achieve this goal, NCSU should place equal value on faculty contributions in research, outreach, and extension, and demonstrate its institutional commitment by providing support, visibility, and encouragement for the contributions of each activity. The enthusiastic support of the vice-chancellor and provost is crucial to the achievement of this goal.

University Research Committee

The University Research Committee advises the vice-chancellor for research, outreach, and extension. The URC's membership is derived from the general faculty with equal representation from each college. The objectives of the URC are: "to bring encouragement and support to the intellectual and research interests of members of the faculty so as to enhance their opportunities for professional growth and to enrich their teaching experience; to develop policies and procedures for the administration of research supported either by contractual arrangement or special grants, gifts, or bequests, and to work toward the continued improvement of these policies and their implementation; to develop consulting policies and practices and to work toward their continued improvement; to keep the faculty informed on the availability of support for research and professional development and to assist as it can in securing such support; and, to recommend for the approval of the chancellor the allocations to be made from the Faculty Research and Professional Develop-ment Fund" (Faculty Handbook, 1987, p. 128).

The University Research Committee is well organized and structured. The success of this body exemplifies the ways in which faculty and college administrative input can be provided to the University administration.

Research Operations Council

The Research Operations Council convenes monthly and is chaired by the vice-chancellor for research, outreach, and extension. Its membership includes the associate deans for research from each college and school, the associate vice-chancellor for research, the associate vice-chancellor for extension, the assistant vice-chancellor for research, the assistant vice-chancellor for technology administration and development, the associate university counsel, the director of sponsored programs, the director of contracts and grants, the chair or representative from the University Research Committee, the coordinator for international programs, and the coordinator for university centers, institutes and laboratories.

The overall purpose of the council is to improve the development, conduct, and administration of research programs at the University. Specific objectives include:

Review, analyze, and implement policies and procedures that support and affect the conduct of research and work toward their improvement.
Disseminate and exchange information and literature on funding opportunities and new initiatives by state, federal, and private support agencies.
Coordinate major studies and reports concerned with the operation of research programs; for example, periodic review of the research infrastructure and preparation of an overview report on research.
Facilitate communication between the Office of Research Administration and the colleges and schools of the University on all research-related matters.

The Research Operations Council is well organized and structured. The success of this body exemplifies the ways in which faculty and college administrative input can be provided to the University administration.

University Extension Committee

The University Extension Committee advises the vice-chancellor for research, outreach, and extension. The committee has faculty members from the colleges and schools, as well as student members, and nonvoting members from the Office of the Vice-Chancellor for Research, Outreach, and Extension. This committee, which was formed in 1992, operates with the following goals: recommend policy and procedures that will facilitate continued improvement of the universitywide outreach and extension program; keep the faculty informed of the need for, and support of outreach and extension activities; act as an advocate for adequate recognition of faculty in their outreach and extension endeavors; and communicate the signature image of the outreach and extension mission of the University. One of the sources of information on faculty perceptions concerning outreach and extension was the survey conducted by the self-study research, outreach, and extension committee in 1993.

The formation of the University Extension Committee is a positive step toward achieving the increased emphasis needed in outreach and extension at NCSU. The University Extension committee is too new, however, to allow a definitive statement concerning its effectiveness.

Extension Operations Council

In 1992 the interim vice-chancellor for research, outreach, and extension identified and appointed twenty-six members to a newly formed Extension Operations Council to replace the older University Extension Advisory Council. Membership on the council includes the vice-chancellor for research, outreach, and extension (chair); one person (ordinarily an associate dean) appointed by the dean of each school or college offering degree programs (ten); chairs of the EOC standing committees (four to six); representatives from University Relations, the Alumni Office, International Programs, Student Affairs, and selected centers and institutes (e.g. the N.C. Japan Center, the UNC Sea Grant College Program, and the Integrated Manufacturing System Engineering Institute) (six to seven). Ex officio members may include the associate vice-chancellor for outreach; the associate vice-chancellor for research; the director of technology administration; the chair of the University Extension Committee; program directors; and from the Division of Continuing Studies, the director of continuing education and professional development, the director of adult credit programs and summer sessions, and director of the Office of Instructional Telecommunications. From time to time the council or the vice-chancellor may establish ad hoc committees to address specific outreach and extension issues or program areas. The chairs and members of the ad hoc committees and standing committees may or may not be EOC members. These committees deliberate and recommend actions to the council through their respective chair, who is a member of the council.

The Extension Operations Council is responsible for guiding NCSU's effort in outreach and extension and service areas by "helping to formulate, coordinate, and communicate [NCSU's] outreach goals and objectives, and implement related policies and procedures."

Specific charges include, but are not limited to the following:

Identify and articulate public issues or problems to which NCSU should respond and whose solutions require collaboration and coordination among the diverse academic disciplines, colleges, and schools.
Advise the vice-chancellor on how NCSU can marshal its resources and become more responsive to the needs and problems of the people of North Carolina.
Recommend new interdisciplinary extension and outreach programs, when appropriate.
Enhance and promote the existing campus wide process for recognizing and rewarding faculty and professional staff participation in extension and outreach activities.
Offer recommendations on any NCSU outreach-related matter, including policies and guidelines, program assessment, and public image.
Act as a communication network for the receipt and dissemination of administrative procedures and guidelines that pertain to extension and outreach programs (see self-study library for a complete copy of these charges, date September 8, 1992).

The formation directive also established four standing committees: Education Channel Advisory Committee; Faculty Recognition and Awards; Marketing and Public Relations; and Rural Revitalization Council.

The formation of the Extension Operations Council is a significant step in providing the increased emphasis needed in outreach and extension at NCSU.

Outreach and Extension Structure

The administrative structure of cooperative extension and other extension and outreach programs varies with each college.

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cooperative Extension Service: The director of the Cooperative Extension Service is also associate dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and reports to the dean. The director has an associate director and six assistant directors in various program areas.
College of Engineering, Industrial Extension Service: Industrial Extension has a director who reports to a dean. The director has seven managers of various program areas, and the managers report to the director.
College of Forest Resources, Forestry Extension: The Cooperative Extension Service is administered through the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Other administrative units include Recreation Resource Services, and the Brandon Hodges Productivity Center.
College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Humanities Extension: Humanities Extension has two co-directors (one for fall and one for spring) who report to the dean.
College of Textiles, Textiles Extension: The college has an associate dean for research and extension (who reports to the dean), an administrative secretary, and a program director for extension and applied research.
University Outreach and Extension: University Extension and Outreach has an associate vice-chancellor who reports to the vice-chancellor for research, outreach, and extension. The associate vice-chancellor works with special assistants in specific program areas such as environment, public information, program development, and public education. In addition, there is a director of the Center for Urban Affairs and Community Relations and a director of contemporary issues and public affairs. Also, there is a Division of Continuing Studies that has five directors for various areas.
School of Design: The School of Design has no formal administrative structure specifically for extension, outreach, and public-service programs. An associate dean for research and certain faculty members have responsibility for outreach programs depending upon the client's area of interest.
College of Education and Psychology: The College of Education and Psychology has an associate dean for research and extension studies with no assistant.
College of Management: The College of Management has an associate dean for research, outreach, and extension with no assistant.
College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences: The College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences has no designated administrative structure specifically for outreach programs. The dean's office is responsible for overall coordination of outreach programs.
College of Veterinary Medicine: The College of Veterinary Medicine has an associate dean and director of services. This office is responsible for the Veterinary Teaching Hospital; Field Services Group; and Continuing Education Programs.

Although the variation in structure from college to college is currently functional, a more uniform administrative effort in extension administration among colleges would improve communication with and among colleges in the areas of outreach and extension. Also, the visibility of outreach and extension efforts could be increased if each college adopted a more nearly similar administrative structure for these endeavors.

Recommendation 7.2: Every NCSU college and school should assign responsibility for delivery of outreach and extension services to an associate dean, in order to encourage development of outreach and extension activities.

Self-Study Table of Contents