Minutes of a Meeting of the Board of Trustees
of the State University of New York
 Research and Economic Development Committee 
November 22, 2011
      
      Pursuant to notice of meeting duly given on November 9, 2011, the Research & Economic Development Committee of the Board of Trustees of the State University of New York met on November 22, 2011 at 8:30 a.m.  
       
				
Members present: 	Trustee Sanford (Chair), Trustees Beachner, Belluck, Staller, Lichtman, Ehrenberg
          				 

Also present: 	Provost Lavallee, Mrs. LoTurco, Mr. Hutzley,                Mr. Howard
RF:  Ms. Boice, Mr. Boyce, Mrs. Kazluga, Dr. Mitchell, Mrs. Rosenfield, Dr. Scheinmann

      Chair Sanford convened the meeting at 8:32 am. Ms. Sanford asked for approval of the minutes from the May 9, 2012 meeting.  The motion was made by Trustee Staller and seconded by Trustee Lichtman.  The minutes were unanimously approved. 
      
	Chair Sanford introduced the first topic on the agenda - The Economic Development Council.  She stated that the Governor has set up ten Councils for this committee.  Mrs. LoTurco proceeded by providing an update and overview of the recent Regional Economic Development Council activities.  Mr. Hutzley also gave a summary on budget proposals presented to the committee. 

	Provost Lavallee began his report by giving a synopsis on the university wide programs relating to research:  Empire Innovation Plan, SPIR and Collaborative Research program.   He described the outcome of funding cuts across the board.  Additionally, he gave the following overview of each of these programs: 

1)	The Empire Innovation program 
a.	This program has been running for about 5 years, within the $10-$12 million dollar range. The original intent when this program was first conceived was to have $10 million funded in each consecutive year, but those increases did not materialize. 
2)	Strategic Partnership of Industrial Research (SPIR)
      a.	This program is approximately on a 2 ˝ million dollar scale.  
      
      
3)	Collaborative Research Project
      a.	This is a new effort which was brought about as part of the Strategic Plan.  
      b.	There is an existing partnership with the Research Foundation. 
      
      Provost Lavallee proceeded by stating that the total budget for all University-wide programs is approximately $128 million, and the amount to re-distribute onto the different programs is $3.2 million.  There was a discussion on how these funds were going to be distributed. It was disclosed that the opportunity programs were a little over half of the entire budget, thus they are proposing to put $1 million of the $3 million back into that program.  Among other benefits, this will allow approximately two hundred EOP students to receive funding.  Provost Lavallee also proposed to form a committee such as the Advisory Council.  As he explained, this committee which will be formed from SUNY Faculty and Deans from the Research Intensive campuses, which will help them understand how to get the most out of these programs and funding distributed in order to ensure accountability and accomplishments. The expectations to maintain the identity of these three programs which are:
      
1)	Empire Innovation Plan- The start-up of new faculty 
2)	SPIR - This program funds every year about 200 small projects; they must involve the local industry and a matching by that local industry 
3)	Collaborative Research - Bring together 15 researchers (Beginning July 2012)
	Mr. Boyce provided an overview on the RF economic development activity. During this discussion, he showed a PowerPoint Presentation on “Steps to advance the SUNY Research and Innovation Ecosystem”.  During the presentation, Provost Lavallee noted a need to develop clearer expectations of what the departments expect from faculty members.  
	Provost Lavallee and Ms. Boice updated the group on the RF Task Forces. It was agreed that there will be further discussion on this subject at their next meeting.  	
      Being no further business, upon motion by Trustee Belluck, seconded by Trustee Lichtman the meeting was adjourned at 9:51 am. 
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Research & Economic Development   	                 -2-	November 22, 2011