Presents a framework for ranking college faculty based on their sponsored-project histories, a departure from conventional academic ranking. Distribution of faculty among these ranks within a unit produces a "funding persistence" profile capable of measuring faculty sponsored-project activity independent of the institutional-productivity model.…

Three major professional associations for research administrators (National Conference on the Administration of Research, National Council of University Research Administrators, and Society of Research Administrators) are described and compared in terms of their objectives, group membership, and activities. The three are seen to serve different…

To address concerns that universities are overcharging the federal government for indirect costs of research programs, data from seven major research universities were used to simulate a standardization of costs and policies to eliminate differences widely assumed to contribute to rate variation. Results suggest universities are not overcharging…

A study of fringe benefits requested by 19 research institutions on behalf of recipients of postdoctoral and junior faculty fellowships found differences reflecting varied institutional policies. It is suggested that, given current funding agency concerns about resource allocation, these and other costs might be more appropriately shared by the…

A comparison of the patent policies of 65 research universities focused on the equity rights of universities in employee inventions, procedures for distribution of patent policies and disclosure of inventions, and income distribution to inventors. Some historical perspective for these practices is offered. (Author/MSE)

Argues that to make improvements in sponsored research administration, it is necessary to understand that: it is a system of interdependent components, and improvement requires systematic, highly integrated methods and a holistic view of the role of research administration in the larger research system. Provides a framework for…

Application of a multidimensional measure of university research activity, the Research Activity Index (RAI), is described and compared to the more common use of research and development expenditures as a criterion of activity. The RAI incorporates seven expenditure variables, three graduate-student-related variables, and a research library…

A national survey of college and university chief research officers conducted in July 1996 provided comparative data concerning the characteristics of research administration in a modern institution, including funding levels and sources, facilities and staff resources, and other program information. Data are grouped by institution type and sector.…

A survey of 49 university and other research administrators investigated attitudes concerning research productivity and measures to assess it. Results are compared with those of an earlier survey of research scientists, including a rank-order comparison of the relative importance of a number of productivity measures. Implications for demonstrating…

Improved evaluation of higher education teaching and research is urged, citing need for quantitative and qualitative indicators of an institution's strategic capacity to adapt to external demands and for closer links between evaluation and institutional goals. Industry's strategic management methods and difficulties of evaluation in different…