Research

University Recognized Centers and Institutes

The intent of a university recognized research center/institute as an approved organizational unit of the university is to facilitate activities for faculty, staff, and students in the pursuit of excellence and achievement in research, scholarship, and creative activity. University recognized research centers and institutes provide stimulating and organized opportunities to enhance research particularly of an interdisciplinary nature as well as instruction and engagement/outreach beyond what is possible from traditional academic units. Each university recognized research center/institute should conform to university policies as well as to state regulations and statutes.

General guidelines for determining whether a unit should be titled an institute or a center are as follows:

• A research center is composed of faculty and potential staff and students who declare a shared technical interest and pursue shared research, instruction and/or engagement/outreach that involve common activities.
  
• A research institute is broader and more complex than a research center and may be a collection of centers.
  

Formal proposals for establishing a university recognized research center/institute should be initiated through the Office of the Vice President for Research according to guidelines established in OP 74.14. A strategic plan for the proposed research center/institute must be clearly aligned with a college or university strategic plan.

Centers/institutes operating solely within an academic department or college may be established by the respective dean. See a comprehensive list of centers and institutes at www.depts.ttu.edu/vpr/researchers/centersinstitutes.php.

 

Intellectual Property Rights

Statement of Basic Philosophy and Objectives

It is recognized that research and scholarship on the part of members of the faculty, staff, and students of the Texas Tech University System (TTUS) will result in patentable and non-patentable inventions, such as biological and other proprietary materials, plants, manuscripts, computer software, trade secrets, medical treatments, devices, pharmaceuticals and products that are potentially marketable. It is the policy of the Board of Regents to encourage scholarly activity without regard to potential gains from royalties and other forms of income. In all cases, however, the affected individuals are subject to individual or TTUS obligations under grants, contracts, or research agreements with governmental agencies and sponsors. All TTUS policies will provide adequate recognition and incentives to sponsors, assignees, and creators and will serve the public interest.

 

General Policy

This intellectual property policy, as adopted, shall apply prospectively to all persons employed by the component faculties of TTUS, to all students of TTUS, and to anyone using TTUS facilities or under the supervision of TTUS personnel. Every employee, faculty member, staff member, or student is expected to be aware of the TTUS policies regarding intellectual property and agrees to accept and abide by them as a condition of employment or enrollment.

It is the intent of this policy to foster the traditional freedoms of the TTUS faculty, staff, and students in matters of publication and invention, through a fair and reasonable balance of the equities among creators, sponsors, and TTUS. The purpose of the policy is to outline the respective rights that members of the faculty, staff, and students have in intellectual materials created while they are affiliated with Texas Tech.

As a public institution, TTUS is entrusted with the responsibility to facilitate application of scientific, technical, artistic, and intellectual endeavors of its faculty and staff for public use and to provide for an equitable disposition of interests among the creators (authors and inventors), TTUS, and, where applicable, the sponsoring or contracting funding source. The Intellectual Property Rights Policy appears in OP 74.04 and the Regents Rules Chapter 10.

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Research Advisory Council

The Research Advisory Council serves in an advisory capacity to the Vice President for Research on research-related matters. Upon request of the vice president, the committee provides advice and input on such matters as university research policy, research goals, and improving the research climate.

The Research Advisory Council is composed of the Associate Vice Presidents for Research; the Associate Dean for Research from each college, the law school, and the libraries; and a representative from university-supported multidisciplinary centers and institutes. In addition, ex-officio members include the Dean of the Graduate School; the Executive Vice President for Research of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center; a representative of the Office of the Provost; a representative of the Faculty Senate; and senior members of the Office of the Vice President for Research.

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Office of Research Services

This office supports the university’s research mission by providing centralized administrative and management services for sponsored projects. Sponsored projects include grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements—from both public and private sectors—that support research, instructional, and engagement/service projects. The office assists with proposal submission, reviews and negotiates grants and contracts, and assists with administration of projects.

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