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Policy 7101 – Introduction and Organization

WWW Posting Date: 1/15/2002

Responsible Office: Office of Research and Innovation


INTRODUCTION

Sponsored programs are those programs of the University which are financed in whole
or part by a funding agency external to the University; these include research grants,
continuing education programs, and equipment grants. The University encourages its
faculty and staff members to undertake sponsored research and other projects as a
means of enriching their scholarly competence and offering modern instructional programs
to both graduate and undergraduate students. These projects are further encouraged
as a means of providing valuable public services.

Research sponsored both by the University and by external funding agencies is an integral
part of the academic program. It is felt that all faculty members of Louisiana Tech
should be engaged in some manner of professional activity and that every effort should
be made to ensure that interested individuals are allowed time to engage in some research
effort. It is the policy of the University to allow the individual the freedom to
initiate the kind and quantity of research he/she is competent to undertake.

ORGANIZATION

Each academic College has a Director of Research and may have additional staff to
expedite the research efforts. It is the purpose of the College Research Director
to aid faculty members in the pursuit of their research interests, especially in the
acquisition of funds for sponsored research.

The Research Council recommends policies and procedures for research and other sponsored
programs. The official statement of purpose of the Research Council is

…to coordinate the research activities of the University, to strengthen interdisciplinary
and inter-institutional research, to serve as a vehicle for discussion of problems
involving the administration of research projects and grants, to recommend to the
University administration policies concerning research and other sponsored programs,
and to foster, stimulate, and advance the research effort of Louisiana Tech University.

The Office of Sponsored Projects has a dual responsibility. The first responsibility
is to encourage, facilitate, and assist faculty members in their search and application
for funds to support their research. Second, the Office of Sponsored Projects is responsible
for assisting Project Directors in complying with the complex and often contradictory
requirements of Federal and State laws and regulations and University policies and
procedures regarding research and sponsored programs.

The Business Manager is responsible for financial and business matters relating to
sponsored programs such as contractual negotiations and financial reports as required
by funding agencies. The Comptroller is responsible for the accounting of all sponsored
project funds. It is the responsibility of the Research Contracts Administrator to
ensure that all expenditures are appropriate and consistent with the policies of the
funding agency, the academic College, and the University. Questions regarding the
accounting for sponsored project funds may be directed to the Office of Sponsored
Projects.