Concern for the state of the humanities is a choice, not a necessity, for research administrators, but by fostering the humanities in any way, research administrators can nurture a vital tradition and a resource that contributes to the institution's basic purposes. (Author/MSE)

Principles for developing successful university-industry partnerships offered: (1) recognize each others goals; (2) match the capabilities interests, and facilities of the institutions with the people involved; (3) develop trust among the individuals; and (4) recognize administrative differences. (MSE)

University research results often lead to patentable inventions with significant possibilities for ethical conflict. University officials must be conscious of these conflicts, examine each situation carefully, and determine actions creating the greatest good for the greatest number. (Author/MSE)

The history of Canada's second largest engineering school's system of research administration is outlined, and the areas of general concern for research administrators seen in the near future are examined. (MSE)

Converting research facility costs from indirect to direct costs is used as an illustrative example of the problems of making changes in research program costing policy. (MSE)

For short- and long-term individual and institutional survival, the university and its research administrators must preserve and enhance the institution's climate for the pursuit of faculty scholarship, and faculties must keep research productivity and scholarly activity high.(MSE)

Research administrators can avoid falling into bureaucratic traps by (1) understanding what is important and what is subordinate to it; (2) becoming a better manager; and (3) improving public relations by being more accessible, soliciting complaints, consulting, supporting clients, making the rules work for clients, and educating clients.

Interviews with faculty on decisions to submit proposals for external funding suggest that activity at the current institution is related to previous experience, and more experience in graduate school may have a strong, positive effect on later activity. (Author/MSE)

An approach to training new administrators is outlined that has four advantages: (1) identifying job responsibilities and matching them with available human, machine, or material resources; (2) compiling instructional units for each of those responsibilities; (3) presenting the units in logical order, allowing for discussion and assimilation; and…

Issues in technology transfer of inventions created through federally-funded, university-based research are reviewed, and the role of the Patent and Trademarks Amendments Act of 1980 in changing the presumption of title is discussed. (MSE)

A survey of South Carolina participants in Small Business Innovative Research programs, conducted to evaluate previous assumptions about research success factors, found that success hinged on the principal investigator's background, the presence of university connections for the project, and the project's ability to respond to the agency's stated…

A research administrator is seen as one who provides an environment conducive to the performance of research by allowing the principal investigator to spend as little time as possible with administrative paperwork. A protocol routing sheet and a checklist for protocol submissions are provided. (MLW)

Three categories of issues about which universities and industry often differ in research agreements are discussed: (1) major philosophical differences between universities and for-profit organizations; (2) complex intellectual property law and regulations of such forms as computer software and biological materials; and (3) differences in drafting…

The role of state government in university-industry research cooperation should be expanded. It is the states' responsibility, more than the federal government's, to foster effective and expeditious use of scientific and engineering resources in relation to the civilian economy, and the states must foster organizational arrangements to support…

A two-day workshop designed to promote sharing of personnel, expertise, and research facilities between Colorado State University and 20 federal agencies for their mutual benefit is described, and the results of a follow-up survey are discussed. (MSE)