Committee on Research

(Amended Feb. 17, 2020)

1. Membership

(a) Vice-President Research or Delegate

(b) Associate Vice-President Academic (Dean of Graduate Studies)

(c) Associate Vice-President (Grenfell Campus) Research and Graduate Studies

(d) Director, Research Grant and Contract Services (Executive Secretary)

(e) University Librarian or delegate

(f) Two post-doctoral fellows, one from postdoc bargaining unit and one from non-bargaining unit

(g) One graduate student (from GSU)

(h) Three undergraduate students, one appointed by the Memorial University Students’ Union, one by the Marine Institute Students’ Union, and one by the Grenfell Campus Student Union.

(i) Up to 15 academic staff members who are selected based on the following guiding principles:

(i) members should be active researchers;

(ii) it is desirable if some members have experience with research advisory committees in their academic units, or experience with research management; and

(iii) at any time, the membership should be broadly representative of researchers throughout the University

2. Purpose

3. Responsibilities

(a) Encourage and promote research in co-operation with the Office of Research and academic units at Memorial University by identifying areas in which to improve our success with Tri-Council (SSHRC, NSERC and CIHR) and other major funding agencies or organizations.

(b) Present proposals and recommendations for consideration to the Senate on:

       (i) existing university research policies;

(ii) the development and implementation of new University research policies, including
commercialization and knowledge transfer;

(iii) scholarly communication, including Open Access;

(iv) the implications of major proposals that might affect established academic priorities; and

(v) the prioritization of research initiatives for the disposition of discretionary research funds accruing to the University.

(c) Act in an advisory, consultative and supporting capacity to the University Librarian and to the Senate on all library matters which affect research at the University

(d) Make Recommendations on copyright-related issues involving researchers, such as Open Access and intellectual property

(e) Appoint a representative to act as an observer on each of the Selection Committee for the President's Award for Outstanding Research and the University Research Professorships

(f) Recommend to the President:

(i) faculty members for the President’s Award for Outstanding Research, and

(ii) faculty members to serve on the Selection Committee for the University Research Professorships

4. Process

(a) The Committee will normally provide advice or recommendations to the Vice-President (Research) and to Senate, on items listed in 3.(b).

(b) The Committee will normally consult on issues listed in 3.(b) with:

(i) Researchers, via their Dean or Director, and

(ii) Students involved in research activities, via the Undergraduate and Graduate student unions.

5. Quorum

The quorum for any meeting of the Committee shall be one-third of its membership at the time of the meeting.