Skip to main content
  • Strategic Plan
  • Strategic Plan for Center for Scholarly and Creative Excellence

Strategic Plan for Center for Scholarly and Creative Excellence

Context For Planning

The Center for Scholarly and Creative Excellence (CSCE) promotes a culture of active, engaged and ethical scholarship through supporting innovative faculty and student research and collaborative partnerships in the broader community. The Center coordinates the efforts of the following units within the University: The Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) serves as the University's central office that supports faculty and staff in the identification, development, submission, and administration of externally sponsored agreements for scholarly research and creative activity. The Office of Research Compliance and Integrity (ORCI) oversees compliance awareness and accountability within the research culture of the university through assistance, education, and communication. The office is responsible for activities involving human subjects, animal welfare, biohazards, and chemical safety. The Office of Undergraduate Research and Scholarship (OURS) offers a variety of opportunities for undergraduates to pursue research and scholarship in various disciplines under the direction of a faculty mentor. The Technology Commercialization Office (TCO) is the university’s intellectual property administration center, serving GVSU’s researchers and inventors with licensing, patent, and technology commercialization issues and acting as an active liaison to parties interested in leveraging GVSU research or materials for academic or corporate endeavors.

Mission

The Center for Scholarly and Creative Excellence and Research Administration provide infrastructure and programs that promote a culture of active, engaged, and ethical scholarship at Grand Valley State University.

Vision

GVSU's Center for Scholarly and Creative Excellence and Research Administration is a nationally-recognized model of comprehensive services and support. We employ specialized expertise in research and sponsored-project administration; research protection; the federal, state, and institutional regulatory environment; and industry relations and technology commercialization to support innovative faculty and student research and collaborative partnerships at GVSU, in the broader community, and the world.

Value Statement

We believe that basic and applied research, artistic expression and performance, and other forms of scholarship contribute to the development and application of knowledge, and create a dynamic environment for learning. This scholarship is essential as Grand Valley is recognized for increasingly innovative and outstanding teaching, recognized scholarship including research significant community engagement, and excellent stewardship of its resources.

The following values guide these programs, policies, and assessment practices of CSCE/RA:

Strategic Priorities, outcomes, and key objectives

Strategic Priority Area 1: Actively engage learners at all levels.

Outcome D: Grand Valley supports innovative teaching, learning, integrative scholarly and creative activity, and the use of new technologies.

Objective 1.D.1

Goal 3: CSCE/RA will have an effective system of communication to inform and educate from the internal and external community about CSCE/RA programs and services. Objective 3.1: Assess and adapt current internal communication systems.

Progress

2018 Status
Substantive Progress
The CSCE has completely revamped its website in the 2018 Summer. The website now includes highlights of faculty and student research projects. In addition, the CSCE has established a reoccurring newsletter sent to the GVSU community highlighting funding opportunities, educational outreach activities, and research accomplishments.

Strategic Priority Area 2: Further develop exceptional personnel.

Outcome D: Grand Valley supports innovative teaching, learning, integrative scholarly and creative activity, and the use of new technologies.

Objective 2.D.1

Goal: CSCE/RA will support the advancement of the scholarship of discovery, application, integration, and teaching. Objective 1.1: To support scholarship through providing training and services that enhance and encourage scholarship.

Progress

2017 Status
Substantial Progress
Baseline data to measure this objective was collected in FY 17 was as follows: RCR 1673 (includes only Epigeum courses, since no in-person RCR course offered during this time period. Animal research – 108 (Includes Epigeum and Blackboard Courses) Export Controls – 133 and Lab Saftey 434 (includes Epigeum, Blackboard, and in-person courses).

Objective 2.D.2

Goal 1: CSCE/RA will support the advancement of the scholarship of discovery, application, integration, and teaching. Objective 1.2: Foster accountability and academic integrity by educating scholars on Responsible Conduct of Research affecting human subjects, animal care, safety and export controls.

Progress

2017 Status
Substantial Progress
Baseline data to measure this objective was collected in FY 17 was as follows: RCR 1673 (includes only Epigeum courses, since no in-person RCR course offered during this time period. Animal research – 108 (Includes Epigeum and Blackboard Courses) Export Controls – 133 and Lab Saftey 434 (includes Epigeum, Blackboard, and in-person courses).

Outcome E: Grand Valley strategically allocates its fiscal, human, and other institutional resources.

Objective 2.E.1

Goal 4: CSCE/RA will develop effective operations to support the active scholarship of GVSUs faculty, staff, and students. Objective 4.2: Use staff Performance Development plans (ePDP) to maximize the training and effectiveness of current AP and PSS.

Progress

2018 Status
Substantial Progress
In May of 2018, all three OSP team members who were eligible to take the Research Administration Certification Council (RACC) Certified Research Administrator (CRA) examination took and passed this extremely rigorous four-hour exam. The national pass rate for the exam is 65%. The remaining OSP team member will become eligible to sit for the examination in 2019.

Strategic Priority Area 3: Ensure the alignment of institutional structures and functions.

Outcome D: Grand Valley supports innovative teaching, learning, integrative scholarly and creative activity, and the use of new technologies.

Objective 3.D.1

Goal 2: CSCE/RA will offer faculty, staff, and students funding to encourage active scholarship, research, and creativity in individual and collaborative work. Objective 2.1: Craft and employ a needs assessment of what external and internal support is needed/wanted by faculty.

Baseline

Not initated

Progress

2017 Status
Minimal Progress
In 2017, the CSCE hired Huron Consulting Group to analyze GVSU's research administration services. During the assessment, numerous research-active faculty, unit and college level administrative staff, and upper-level administrators were interviewed to assess needs. Huron's final report was submitted and accepted by GVSU's Provost. The CSCE has been actively completing its recommendations.

Objective 3.D.2

Goal 2: CSCE/RA will offer faculty, staff, and students funding to encourage active scholarship, research, and creativity in individual and collaborative work. Objective 2.2: Maintain and grow current levels of internal and external funding support.

Baseline

2016 baseline grants and contract report

Progress

2017 Status
Achieved
A monthly report, called the Sponsored Activity Report (SAR), is compiled and sent to all senior administrators at the University. The SAR tracks all submitted, awarded, and denied sponsored research proposals submitted through the Center for Scholarly and Creative Excellence (Office of Sponsored Programs) on behalf of the University. Each College also receives a quarterly report that describes College activity based on the # of proposals, # of unique PI, and $ amounts submitted and awarded.

Outcome E: Grand Valley strategically allocates its fiscal, human, and other institutional resources.

Objective 3.E.1

Goal 4: CSCE/RA will develop effective operations to support the active scholarship of GVSUs faculty, staff, and students. Objective 4.1: Conduct a gap analysis of all CSCE/RA units to determine appropriate models for effectiveness and level of resources.

Baseline

Based on the analysis and recommendation of Huron Consulting group completed in March of 2017. The Center had an need of an AP-level Research Administration Specialist but no budgetary capacity to hire such personnel. Huron Research Consultants recommended a total of 17 policies as part of their assessment of GVSU research administration. Of the 17 policies , eight policies were fully within the purview of the Center’s OSP pre-award scope : Authorized Organizational Representative Policy; Principal Investigator Eligibility Policy; Service and Consulting Agreement Policy; Cost-Sharing Policy; Allowable Cost Policy; Proposal Submission Deadline Policy; and Subrecipient vs subcontractor Policy

Progress

2018 Status
Substantial Progress
In July 2017 the underutilized OSP PSS4 tendered resignation. We used this opportunity to re-classify the position to an AP position supporting data management within the CSCE. We hired the new Research Administration Specialist on April 4, 2018.

Strategic Priority Area 4: Enhance the institution's image and reputation.

Outcome C: Grand Valley has mutually beneficial relationships, partnerships, collaborations, and connections with local, state, national, and world communities.

Objective 4.C.1

Goal 3: CSCE/RA will have an effective system of communication to inform and educate from the internal and external community about CSCE/RA programs and services. Objective 3.2: Assess and adapt current external communication systems.

Baseline

Not initiated

Progress

2018 Status
Minimal Progress
A University “Front Door” Committee was established and met six times during 2017. Based on these meetings, as well as continuing dialogue with senior leadership, the CSCE will be taking the following actions so that when GVSU is ready to open a Front Door, CSCE will be ready to support it! - Modifying our processes and working with others to support development and execution on agreements and accounting - Establishing a database to track sponsored-research and other industrial projects brought through the CSCE for contractual support - Actively seeking additional sponsored-research projects with our community partners (and then learn from these opportunities)

Back to list