Complete Procedures Document

PURPOSE AND SCOPE – The University Research Advisory Committee advises the President and President’s cabinet members on strategies to stimulate growth in scholastic and externally funded research and innovative/creative activities within the university community.  The Committee advises on the development of a comprehensive structure and network of programs to foster these activities along with fulfilling one of the key focus areas: “Distinctiveness – Create Distinctive Programs and Invigorate Faculty” of the flight plan with following objectives:

• Expand scholastic and externally funded research
• Support faculty collaboration and development
• Promote cross-disciplinary and integrated programs and scholarship
• Provide undergraduate research opportunities

The Committee reports directly to either the Academic Council or Administrative Council, or both, depending on the matter at hand.  In carrying out its function the Committee will:

1. Identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and challenges to research growth and externally funded scholarly activities at TTU;
2. Identify emerging research opportunities anticipated across the academic disciplines;
3. Make recommendations regarding intellectual and infrastructure needs required to capitalize on major research opportunities;
4. Develop plans and make recommendations for accessing, supporting and sustaining existing and emerging research thrust areas;
5. Review current practices in research administration and recommend strategies to foster research growth; and
6. Make recommendations regarding the commercialization of research and intellectual property issues.

 2019-2020 Members

Name	Classification	Campus Box No.	Email	Term Expires
Dr. Michael Adduci	Faculty	5045	madduci@tntech.edu	2020
Dr. Satish Mahajan	Administrative	5004	smahajan@tntech.edu	2021
Dr. Jason Beach	Faculty	5042	jbeach@tntech.edu	2021
Dr. Steven Anton	Faculty	5014	santon@tntech.edu	2021
Dr. Sheikh Ghafoor	Faculty	5101	sghafoor@tntech.edu	2020
Dr. Hayden Mattingly	Faculty	5152	hmattingly@tntech.edu	2020
Dr. Adam Holley	Faculty	5051	aholley@tntech.edu	2022
Dr. Deborah (Debbie) Barnard	Faculty	5061	dbarnard@tntech.edu	2020
Dr. Ramchandran Natarajan	Faculty	5022	rnat@tntech.edu	2021
Dr. Shelia Hurley	Faculty	5001	shurley@tntech.edu	2022
Dr. Brian Leckie	Faculty	5034	bleckie@tntech.edu	2021
Dr. Jeff Boles	Faculty	5055	jboles@tntech.edu	2022
Dr. Mark Stephens	Administrative	5136	mstephens@tntech.edu	2021
Ms. Kayla Sims	Graduate Student		kasims43@students.tntech.edu	2020
Mr. Craig Harrison	Undergraduate Student		cmharrison42@students.tntech.edu	2020
Executive Officer to Provide Staff Support Services:	Dr. Francis Otuonye, Interim VP for Research and Economic Development
Nonvoting Resource Persons:	Mr. Greg Holt, Dr. Terry Saltsman, Ms. Deborah Gernt

Please visit our SharePoint site for copies of URAC minutes. Note: You must use your Tennessee Tech credentials to log into that page.

Tennessee Tech University Annual Scholastic Research Award
presented by the University Research Advisory Committee

The Annual Scholastic Research Award is a university-wide award for a single, significant and innovative work produced, published, performed or exhibited during the preceding calendar year (January 1 – December 31). 

Applications are open to all tenure-track or tenured faculty, with one award reserved for tenure-track faculty and one award reserved for tenured faculty, for a total of two awards. Each awardee will receive a monetary prize in the amount of $1,500. A faculty member who has won the award shall be ineligible for the same award for a period of three years.

A complete application consists of the following items:

1. A two-page narrative explaining the importance of the work and its relevance to the applicant's larger discipline (NB: Receipt of a grant alone does not constitute an eligible work within the parameters of this award). 

The narrative must be double-spaced with one-inch margins at the top, bottom, and on each side, and must not exceed two pages.  The type must be clear, readily legible, and 12-point Times New Roman.

2. A one-page letter of support from a colleague that explains the importance and relevance of the work submitted within the context of the applicant's discipline.  The letter must be on letterhead from the evaluator's institution. The letter may come from the Tennessee Tech faculty, or from outside of Tennessee Tech.

3. Up to 3 pieces of evidence in support of the work.

Evidence can include, but is not limited to, the following: Copies of publications, compositions, programs and reviews of exhibitions or performances, or any other item attesting to the work under consideration. The items the candidate submits as evidence should serve to strengthen the narrative and serve to provide a deeper understanding of the submitted work's significance and innovation to a committee with members representing all disciplines at Tennessee Tech. 

Do not attach a bio, vitae, or resume to the application. 

Application materials must be submitted electronically in a single PDF to sstorie@tntech.edu on or before February 28, 2020. 

THE COMMITTEE WILL REJECT ANY APPLICATION THAT DOES NOT ADHERE TO THE ABOVE GUIDELINES EXACTLY AS SPECIFIED.

The University Research Advisory Committee will review applications each spring semester and award winners will be announced each April at the Faculty Recognition Reception. 

SCHOLASTIC RESEARCH AWARD WINNERS

• 2019:  Dan Allcott
• 2018:  Jesse Carrick and Mohamed Mahmoud
• 2017:  Steven Canfield, Seth King and ChaBum Lee