Collegiate Times

The administration?s research goal has faculty members concerned about the university?s priorities. The Sigma Xi faculty organization brought these concerns to Provost Mark McNamee in an open discussion yesterday.

Joseph Pitt, president of Sigma Xi and the head of the philosophy department said before the conversation with McNamee that the goals of the university?s strategic research plan were too narrow. McNamee echoed this judgement of the previous plan and said the administration is working to shift the strategy of research.

?As a matter of principle, we want our research plan to reflect scholarship. We want to upgrade and enhance the university research even if it doesn?t directly influence the top 30 goal,? McNamee said.

University President Charles Steger stated when he took office that he wanted Virginia Tech to be a top 30 research institute. Since then, Virginia Tech has tracked its progression toward this goal through research expenditure totals. Faculty members of Sigma Xi argued that measuring success by cost makes research financially driven and disregards impact or quality.

The provost responded to the concerned faculty with the administration?s new approach towards university research, which steps away from the ?top 30? goal.

?We would like to instead focus on a bigger research portfolio that incorporates social issues and social concerns with actual science,? McNamee said. ?By focusing more on our strengths and then diversifying our capabilities we will be able to compete on our own terms as a legitimate research institute. If these ideas are embraced by faculty across all disciplines then becoming a top research institute will take care of itself.?

The perceived focus on financial oriented goals by the administration also caused Sigma Xi to wonder what was being done about faculty support.

?In order to attract international profiles and research we need to provide background support for these people. Acting the way a top 30 university should means more than just laboratories. It means ways to empower those here to do the best possible job,? said one member of Sigma Xi during the discussion.

Members of Sigma Xi said faculty considerations were overlooked and the infrastructure of assistance was less than what a top institute would be. Members spoke about overhead costs, lack of post-doc availability and bureaucratic hurdles that hindered what they could accomplish.

?Something as simple as a help desk would be more supportive of faculty in their endeavors,? Pitt said.

?What we don?t want is for people to feel that they cannot have a full-filling real life. We don?t want faculty to be burned out by the university,? McNamee said.

The shift of approach toward research doesn?t change the impact that strong research will have on undergraduates. McNamee said the administration continues to presume that strong personalities and projects at the top will have a positive influence on undergrads.

?The rhetoric over the years has been on research but the undergraduate program continues to be a strength,? McNamee said. ?A big part of our faculty?s life is still in the classroom with the student. Undergraduate research opportunities will strengthen our program and allow students to apply what they learned in the classroom to real situations.?

At the end of the meeting, the members of Sigma Xi said they understood the provost?s point of view and shifted their concerns to ways that they could help. Ideas included sponsoring campus discussions or speakers on important areas.

?I think that the conversation with the provost was just what we wanted. I?ve watched the university change for years and we have to continue to move in the right direction. The needs of the individual faculty are most important as we do this,? Pitt said.