Senate Recommendation (Academic Policy 103)
A. Written Report Summary:
1.
Purpose:
This
long-standing unit was established at UM in 1950. “The Cooperative Research Unit is a unique
collaborative relationship between States, Universities, the Federal government
and a non-profit organization. Coop Units conduct research on renewable natural
resource questions, participate in the education of graduate students destined
to join the natural resource profession, provide technical assistance and
consultation to parties who have interests in natural resource issues, and
provide various forms of continuing education for natural resource
professionals.” (from Website at http://www.umt.edu/MCWRU/
accessed 2/15/08).
Objectives:
a. Conduct research and applied research in ecology of renewable natural
resources, especially ecology and management.
b. Provide technical and professional education at graduate and professional
levels
c. Disseminate research findings and techniques
2. Anticipated activities:
Research: plans to continue
to support short and long term research projects. Currently has 20 projects listed on its
website.
Graduate education: 10 graduate students are currently listed on
the website and are linked to research projects they with which they are
associated. The Unit director or leader
has five graduate students and the assistant leader has four.
Technical support:
3.
Other organizations
involved (Agency
Involvement)
The unit embodies a collaboration between the U.S. Geological Survey, the
University of Montana, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, the Wildlife
Management Institute, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Numerous other agencies are involved through
funding of research.
4.
Reporting line:
The Unit Director reports to the Vice President for Research
5.
Relationships with institutional
mission and contribution to academic programs:
The
Unit continues to advise and support a substantial portion of graduate
students, teach courses, and contribute to programmatic objectives, in 2
University of Montana programs (Wildlife Biology and Organismal Biology and
Ecology).
6.
Similar programs in
Montana Cooperative Fisheries Research Unit,
Idaho Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research
Unit, University of Idaho, Moscow;
Wyoming Fish and Wildlife Research Unit,
University of Wyoming, Laramie
7.
Budget:
Only
found budget for 2007 – Of the almost $1.4 million budget, UM pays around
$46,000 for one FTE admin assistant and $46,000 for graduate RA positions for a
total of $0.092 million). This leaves
around $1.3million from external federal and state sources, most of which comes
from funded research.
B. Review and Approval Process
2. The Faculty Senate through
its Chair, who in turn shall distribute it to
Review
in terms of Scope as stated in academic policy 100.0
To provide instruction, scholarship, or service to the University, state or
world by: (1) focusing attention on an
area of strength and/or addressing a critical issue, or (2) facilitating
collaborative, multi-disciplinary endeavors to combine resources from several
programs or institutions to address issues of common interest.
Review
in terms of the University’s mission.
§
Comments:
§
Does
§
Is
the relationship with academic units beneficial? Yes, expecially graduate
programs
§
Is
the program revenue neutral or does it consume more resources than it
generates? If so, is the use of University resources justified? Revenue neutral with opportunities to seek
funding for new research projects.
§
Is
the entity making progress toward objectives? YES
Recommendation: Approve the Montana
Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit for another five years.
Justification: The MCWRU has been on UM campus since
1950. It is funded primarily by
extramural entities (i.e., less than 7% of budget comes from UM excluding SPABA
funds from indirects) and provides opportunities for a number of graduate
students to do research and obtain RA funding while at UM.