Priority 2: Develop, Catalyze, and Promote Innovative Research and Creative Activities

We will...

• Increase the number of proposals to all sources of funding. Although the focus will be on improving proposal quality and size, it is important to value all project sizes and funding avenues, as each contributes to research and innovation.
• Ensure a balance of funding across sources and promote diversification in funding sources to improve research program resilience to funding shocks, particularly at the federal level. Streamline the proposal submission process and provide pre-award and post-award administrative support to increase the number and quality of proposals submitted and awards received.

Key Performance Indicators

• Increase the number and type of research proposals submitted, with a focus on increasing federal funding proposals, by 5% per year.
• Increase the proposal success rate to an average 25%.
• Increase the number of awards by 5% per year.
• Increase Total Research Expenditures by 20%.

Highlighted Initiatives

• Development and implementation of Davis College Strategic Resource Groups to facilitate collaborative and trans-disciplinary research initiatives.
• Develop a stable of effective, proven external grant writers to assist with proposal development, specifically targeting early career faculty.

We will...

• Increase the number of scholarly journal publications, books, monographs, and creative works produced across Davis College.
• Increase research quality and reputation through citations, invited national and international presentations.

Key Performance Indicators

• Increase the number of articles by 25% and presentations by 30%; increase the number of articles in Academic Analytics to an average 15 per faculty member and/or the total number of articles to exceed 1,800.
• Increase the number of citations in Academic Analytics to 500 per faculty member.
• Increase the number of invitations for international presentations by 40%.

Highlighted Initiatives

• Utilization of monthly chair meetings to emphasize the importance of research output; regular reporting of progress.
• Advertise and congratulate research productivity at the college level to build a culture of research.

We will...

• Develop future graduate researchers through undergraduate research programs.
• Increase the proportion of domestic graduate students involved in our research programs.
• Ensure all graduate programs promote professional development opportunities through research, teaching and engagement.

Key Performance Indicators

• Increase undergraduate participation in undergraduate research programs by 40%.
• Increase the number of internal students recruited into graduate programs and number of assistantships and scholarships awarded to internal students for graduate programs by 35%.
• Increase graduate participation in research projects, teaching opportunities and outreach/engagement activities.

Highlighted Initiatives

• Davis College Graduate Student Poster Competition
• Davis College graduate student orientation and social activities
• Davis College undergraduate research program support

We will...

• Actively link researchers with innovation and commercialization opportunities.
• Build and strengthen commercial partnerships that will foster new ideas and support applied, problem-solving research that meets industry needs.
• Create opportunities for faculty, students, and industry to build relationships to foster future innovation and career paths.

Key Performance Indicators

• Increase the number of faculty pursuing commercialization opportunities through the TTU commercialization process and Innovation HUB by 30%.
• Increase the number of commercial partnership opportunities identified and cultivated across Davis College.
• Increase the number of commercial contacts and interactions created, and/or partnerships formalized.
• Increase the number of invention disclosures and patent awarded by 30%.

Highlighted Initiatives

• Annual Research and Innovation Summit links faculty and students to companies to foster creative problem-solving.

We will...

• Promote vigorous recruitment strategies that target the highest quality faculty available in the job market.
• Identify faculty that match strategic priorities for the departments and college and match high-quality facilities and resources to those faculty.
• Provide faculty development opportunities and integrate faculty into the college to promote a sense of belonging and community.
• Promote faculty for all eligible awards at the local, regional, professional, and national levels.

Key Performance Indicators

• Increase applicant pool size and quality through recruiting practices.
• Increase the success of hiring most desired candidates through strategic marketing and offer packages.
• Increase the number of professional development activities offered and engaged by faculty.
• Increase the number of faculty awards earned by 40%.

Highlighted Initiatives

• Davis College Annual Assembly activities to support faculty development.
• Actively assist in faculty recruitment by departments.
• Continue development of awards and support through the Dean’s office for award applications at the national level.