Division of Research Mission Statement
2023 Research Enterprise Highlights
Texas A&M is one of the world’s leading research universities. The Division of Research will advance and strengthen all aspects of the research enterprise by implementing an enhanced, integrated, and strategic approach to:
- Capitalize on our research strengths and knowledge to deliver solutions to serve the public good
- Grow our resources, infrastructure, data, and technology
- Align opportunities with potential collaborators and research teams
- Support interdisciplinary/multidisciplinary collaborations to advance research
- Increase federal, state, and private funding
- Provide effective research support
- Build capacity through collaborations and strategic investments
- Promote creativity and innovation, while ensuring the highest standards of research integrity in proposing, conducting, and reporting research, and promote and facilitate safe, ethical, and scholarly activity that reflects the university’s mission and core values
- Increase communication and enhance visibility with stakeholders to promote the value of research and the research enterprise
Collaboration
Mays Business School partnered with the Division of Research in the development of a comprehensive strategic plan for the university’s research enterprise. The planning process is being facilitated by Bill Peel, executive director of innovation and strategic planning, and Jon (Sean) Jasperson, assistant dean for learning transformation and academic technology. Bill and Jon used the SOAR methodology (Strengths|Opportunities|Aspirations|Results) that is rooted in appreciative inquiry (AI). The planning process was conducted in a virtual environment as well as in-person town hall meetings.
Approach
Strategic planning training process:
S
Strengths
What are we good at?
O
Opportunities
What are the possibilities?
A
Aspirations
What are our dreams?
R
Results
What are meaningful outcomes?
Resources
SOAR
Like Appreciative Inquiry, SOAR invites representatives of all stakeholders into the conversation about an organization’s Strengths, what the organization does well; Opportunities, what are the possibilities, innovations; Aspirations, what gives people purposeful work that reflects what they value.
More about SOAR
Appreciative Inquiry
“The ‘AI Commons’ is a place for everyone with an interest in Appreciative Inquiry (AI) and positive change. You are invited to learn about AI, share your own AI resources, connect with our global AI community, and schedule or attend AI events such as summits, workshops, and gatherings.”
5-D Cycle of Appreciative Inquiry
This page has summary of 5-D (define, discover, dream, design, and delivery/destiny) cycle of appreciative inquiry and a great 5-minute video.
AI Videos
Train the Trainer
Timeline
| When | What |
|---|---|
| February 15 – February 23 | Division of Research staff survey |
| March/April | DOR Training, SOAR Sprints for feedback, progress to date |
| May 10 2:00 - 4:00pm | State of the Division and Spring Social Thomas G. Hildebrand Equine Complex Presentation |
| June 13 8:30 - Noon | Town Hall - Nurture: Innovation Thomas G. Hildebrand Equine Complex Division of Research staff only |
| June 20 8:30 - Noon | Town Hall - Ecosystems: Infrastructure Thomas G. Hildebrand Equine Complex Division of Research staff only |
| July 12 8:30 - Noon | Town Hall - Cultivate: Interdisciplinary Research McFerrin Center for Entrepreneurship 1700 Research Parkway, 2 Research Park Building Division of Research staff only |
| July 13 8:30 - Noon | Town Hall - Uproot: Administrative Challenges McFerrin Center for Entrepreneurship 1700 Research Parkway, 2 Research Park Building Division of Research staff only |
| August 23 | DOR Train-the-Trainer, SOAR, Appreciative Inquiry |
| September | Form Strategic Planning Advisory Committee; Committee reviews and approves survey to be sent to Research Enterprise Stakeholders |
| September 15 8:00am - 11:00am | Town Hall Theme - Cultivate: Interdisciplinary Research* McFerrin Center for Entrepreneurship 1700 Research Parkway, 2 Research Park Building |
| September 15 Noon - 3:00pm | Town Hall Theme - Nurture: Innovation* McFerrin Center for Entrepreneurship 1700 Research Parkway, 2 Research Park Building |
| September 19 - September 28 | Research Enterprise Stakeholder Survey conducted* |
| September 22 8:00am - 11:00am | Town Hall Theme - Uproot: Administrative Challenges* McFerrin Center for Entrepreneurship 1700 Research Parkway, 2 Research Park Building |
| September 22 Noon - 3:00pm | Town Hall Theme - Ecosystem: Infrastructure* McFerrin Center for Entrepreneurship 1700 Research Parkway, 2 Research Park Building |
| October 13 8:00am - 11:00am | Virtual Zoom Town Hall (locations external to College Station) Themes included: Cultivating Interdisciplinary Research, Nurturing Innovation, Uprooting Administrative Challenges, Ecosystem Infrastructure |
| October 27 1:00pm - 1:45pm | State of the Division - Fall Update Presentation |
| December 2022 - February 2023 | DOR reviews feedback and creates draft research enterprise strategic plan |
| March 2023 | Advisory Group and other constituents review draft plan |
| April 24 | VPR Update and Spring Social Thomas G. Hildebrand Equine Complex Presentation |
*Open to Stakeholders external to Division of Research staff/programs/centers/institutes