Loyola University Chicago

Excused: Drs. Suter, Yost

The meeting was called to order at 2:05 pm.

1. Dr. Samarel reviewed the Committee charge as outlined in the UP-R Website (Exhibit A).
2. The minutes of the Mar 27 meeting were unanimously approved.
3. The Committee renewed deliberations on the issue of Research Space Allocation at all LUC campuses. Dr. Samarel reviewed the sequence of events leading up to formal request by the Research Committee of Faculty Council to develop a University Wide Research Space Policy. Dr. Samarel reviewed the definition of 'research-intensive' faculty at the Medical School, and the tracking of research funding via the medical school's faculty information system. Dr. Nickoloff then discussed the impact of unfunded research space on the negotiation of the Indirect Cost rate. LUC's indirect cost rate has declined from 55% to its current level of 48% in part because of the relatively large number of research laboratories occupied with faculty-investigators with little or no extramural funding. Dr. Nickoloff suggested that the space policy recognize the importance of minimizing unfunded research space, with the goal of maximizing research space utilization. Dr. Samarel also pointed out that there may still exist a maldistribution of research space at the Medical Center campus, in which very well funded investigators occupy relatively small labs. Mr. Caldwell confirmed that the target funding for Medical School space is $120 total grant support (direct+indirect costs) per net square foot of research space. Mr. Caldwell then described the recent space survey and distributed to the committee members the space inventory instructions. Dr. Samarel agreed to try and obtain the final analysis of "organized research space" amongst the various campuses, and provide that information to the committee.
   Dr. Samarel then briefly discussed Dr. Yost's recommendations for a space policy outlined in his recent email to all committee members. It was decided to postpone a formal review and critique of this draft policy until Dr. Yost is present at the next meeting.
4. Dr. Samarel then briefly reviewed the issues raised by the Provost regarding a restructuring of Research Administration. Dr. Samarel indicated that it was requested that any further discussion of these issues be postponed, which was agreeable to all of the committee members present.
5. Representation at the upcoming faculty forums was then discussed. Dr. Lee volunteered to attend the forum at the Water Tower campus on January 27. Dr. Samarel will represent the UPC-R at the forum at the Medical School campus on January 27. Dr. Malm volunteered to attend the Lake Shore Campus meeting on January 28.
6. It was agreed to try to hold future meetings early on Friday afternoons, if possible. The next meeting will be held at the Lake Shore Campus, hopefully attended by Dr. Yost so that his draft policy can be discussed in detail. Suggested dates include February 20 or February 27.
7. The meeting was adjourned at 3:15 pm.