Partnerships and Center Management: A Few Thoughts for Prospective URC Directors

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Partnerships and Center ManagementA Few
Thoughts forProspective URC Directors
Jeff Roberts Director, University of
Minnesota RSEC Department of Chemistry University
of Minnesota Minneapolis, MN 55455 tel.
612-625-2363 e-mail roberts_at_chem.umn.edu
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The University of MinnesotaResearch Site for
Educators in Chemistry (RSEC)
RSEC involves the chemistry departments of the
University of Minnesota and those of
approximately 30-35 PUIs in a 5-year, 2,000,000
project. Faculty at participating institutions
are offered a variety of ways to work together.
The RSECs goals of promoting education and
research are achieved through
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Four Interdisciplinary Research Clusters
chemical biology
computational chemistry
Karin Musier-Forsyth (leader) Edgar
Arriaga George Barany Michael Bowser Mark
Distefano Tom Hoye Marian Stankovich Larry Que,
Jr.
Jiali Gao (leader) Chris Cramer Ilja Siepmann Don
Truhlar Darrin York
environmental chemistry
materials chemistry
Ken Leopold (leader) Philippe Buhlmann Steven
Kass Kris McNeill R. Lee Penn Jeffrey Roberts
Xiaoyang Zhu (leader) David Blank Wayne
Gladfelter Marc Hillmyer Tim Lodge Kent
Mann Andreas Stein Andrew Taton
Telephone numbers, e-mail addresses, and research
descriptions of all University of Minnesota
cluster members are available over the web at
www.chem.umn.edu/rsec.
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The Minnesota Site Has aStrong Regional Focus
The Upper Midwest is rich in undergraduate
institutions. They form a diverse group public
and private, rich and poor, research active and
not.
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33 Participating Institutions
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33 Participating Institutions (cont.)
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How Do Faculty Members Participate?
Chemistry faculty of member PUI departments are
eligible to apply for support. -30 to 35
member departments -mostly in the Upper
Midwest -evidence of broad-based
enthusiasm -letter of support from
department chair
Applications are reviewed twice each year, in
the spring and fall. -simple,
web-accessible application forms advice is
readily available -400,000 annual budget,
mostly for research -a diverse portfolio
of collaborations is sought -any
reasonable expense could be funded
Applications should describe a pathway to
sustainability. -sunset provisions in
support agreements -collaborations versus
stand-alone programs -plans for external
agency proposals -impact on the
undergraduate curriculum
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The RSEC Supports a Diverse Range
ofCollaborative Structures
Group visits of faculty members from a single
PUI during the summer.

Drake University
Academic year partnerships that integrate small
school and U of M research groups.

University of Wisconsin-River Falls
Summer visits from participating faculty and
their students.

St. Cloud State University University of Northern
Iowa
Sabbaticals, coupled to teaching internships for
University of Minnesota graduate students.

University of St. Thomas
Short faculty visits during the academic year,
coupled to summer support for a PUI student.

Fisk University
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Portfolio of Collaborations40 So Far!

47 applications received, 40 approved.
Unsuccessful applicants are given feedback on how
to improve their applications.
33 faculty summer visitors, most with summer
research students. Several visitors have spent
parts of two summers at the University of
Minnesota.

6 academic year partnerships,with much of the
research carried out at the PUI faculty members
home institution.


5 sabbatical visitors. In three cases, the
sabbatical visitor sent a summer undergraduate
to the University of Minnesota.
Good representation across cluster areas (15 in
Chemical Biology, 10 in Computational Chemistry,
4 in Environmental Chemistry, 11 in Materials
Chemistry).

Participants from 20 primarily undergraduate
institutions

Minnesota State University, Mankato (2) St. Cloud
State University (4) University of Northern Iowa
(3) University of St. Thomas (5) University of
Wisconsin-Eau Claire (4) University of
Wisconsin-La Crosse (1) University of
Wisconsin-River Falls (3) University of
Wisconsin-Stevens Point (1) Viterbo University
(1) Winona State University (2)
Alcorn State University (1) Augsburg College
(1) Carleton College (1) College of St.
Benedict-St. Johns University (2) Drake
University (4) Fisk University (1) Florida AM
University (1) Hamline University (1) Illimois
College (1) Macalester College (1)
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How Do We Do All This?
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Some Unexpected Surprises

• -Organized by Scott Hartsel,
• University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
• For graduate students and post-docs
• interested in PUI careers
• 50 attendees, from students in Upper
• Midwestern universities

• Involved John Stubbs, senior
• graduate student at Minnesota
• Developed and taught Computational
• Chemistry course at Drake University
• Mentored and advised by Drake faculty

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A Few Ideas about Management
Management involves four types of tasks
financial (keeping track of the budget,
processing purchase orders, payroll,)

organizing (meetings, workshops, symposia, poster
sessions, record keeping)

communicating (web site, mailing / e-mailing
announcements, flyers, annual reports,
presentations)

steering the ship (assessing your program,
deciding on changes of direction, bringing new
people and ideas on board,)

Center directors should spend most of their time
on vision, i.e. on the fourth set of tasks.
Adequate support (from colleagues or, ideally,
designated staff) is essential!
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A Few Ideas about Forming Partnerships
Take it seriously, and make sure that all parties
have ownership
It begins with proposal writing. Dont just ask
your partners for their vitas you need their
ideas too.

Avoid even the appearance of hierarchy, or the
suggestion that one type of institution is
better than another.

Real partners have a share in program design and
decision making.

Partners have responsibilities, too, and it is up
to center management to see that these
responsibilities are executed.

Three essentials (i) involve your partners from
the beginning, so that they are fully committed
to your program (ii) share the power as well as
the work and (iii) design the management
structure to ensure that your center delivers on
its promises.
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Lessons I Have Learned
The success of a program like this is determined
(mostly) in the initial planning. You probably
cannot spend too much time on this!


Programs must be structured to be mutually
beneficial. Enlightened self interest is no
evil!

Expectations should be high. All parties should
contribute as well as receive.
Flexibility is key. Faculty members have widely
different needs and constraints.

Programs must budget for adequate administrative
and organizational assistance.

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One Final ThoughtKeep It Simple
Thank you!