Report finds UNM research is in crisis

A report says the offices overseeing research at the University of New Mexico have fallen into such dysfunction and disrepair that some faculty members are leaving. Others are choosing not to do research. 

The report was issued recently by a university task force, the Albuquerque Journal reported Sunday in a copyright story.

"The situation is grim. We need major changes," Carlton Caves told more than 100 faculty members Friday. The room was so crowded that some faculty sat on the floor while others spilled out meeting room doors.

The task force made up of faculty members, associate deans and other administrators is calling for sweeping changes. Caves is chairman of the task force and a distinguished professor in physics and astronomy.

Administrators have pledged to fix the problems.

Among the task force's findings:

The Office of the Vice President for Research and Economic Development has a top-heavy administrative structure, while departments that provide direct support to researchers are stretched too thin.

The red tape that researchers at UNM must go through for the simplest purchase is a nightmare.

The task force couldn't determine how the research vice president's budget is spent.

"The primary conclusion of our study is that there are systemwide deficiencies in main-campus research administration at UNM," the report states.

The task force attributed the issues to serious problems in management and structure in the senior research administration "which has allowed sponsored-project administration to fall into dysfunction and disrepair, with the inevitable consequence that faculty and staff are increasingly frustrated."

The study didn't look at research at the university's Health Sciences Center, which accounts for roughly half of the $179 million research and development expenditures at UNM during fiscal year 2005 and is supported separately.

Caves said UNM President David Schmidly was briefed about the situation. Among Schmidly's goals, approved by regents earlier this month, is fully implementing recommendations made by the task force.

Terry Yates, UNM's vice president for research and economic development, is on medical leave with a serious illness. John McIver, senior associate vice president for research and economic development, told faculty members the university has begun taking steps to fix the problems.

Information from: Albuquerque Journal, http://www.abqjournal.com