Axe ’Em, Jacks!
Mission and Purpose
The Research Advisory Council of the Office of Research and Graduate Studies will advance the research capacity of the university. The council defines research as projects that use scholarly or creative methods and techniques within an academic discipline to produce a deeper knowledge, understanding or application of the subject studied. This includes theoretical or applied research, artistic activity and evidence-based scholarship that encompass all disciplines.
The council will elevate research volume and advance research visibility by: advocating for university resources, university-wide policies and university-wide procedures to enhance research and the visibility of research on campus; promoting faculty research collaboration and engagement; advocating for expanding student research opportunities; and advocating for expanding support for obtaining external research funding.
Join the Collaboration
Please email RAC@sfasu.edu to learn how you can be a part of this exciting initiative as a research advocate! A council member will reach out to you using the contact information you provide.
Benefits to the University
The council will support the strategic goals of the university by advocating for enhancements to the overall research climate of the university. This will support the strategic goals of attracting and retaining high-quality faculty and students; fostering curricular and cocurricular innovations; redefining university culture to include a focus on research, in addition to teaching; and increasing connections and collaborations across campus and the community through research. Additionally, by enhancing research and research visibility, the overall reputation of SFA will be elevated, positively impacting student recruitment and retention. If successful, externally funded research is expected to increase over time, adding to the financial resources of the institution.
I believe the council will help us expand our research through transdisciplinary collaboration between majors and colleges. Gina Causin, Ph.D.
My research program has improved tremendously by finding collaborators with related interests and complimentary skill sets. Until the creation of the council, there was no systematic way for faculty to find others with compatible interests. I hope that the council will facilitate research collaborations across campus and increase the profile of research on campus and within the community. Lauren E. Brewer, Ph.D.
My hope is that RAC will provide an avenue for faculty to advocate for increased research resources, research support and research collaborations across our university. The council has great potential for increasing the visibility of research on our campus and in the community, benefitting students, faculty, the university and the community. Flora Farago, Ph.D.
Scope of the Research Advisory Council
Research at SFA is supported by specialized campus groups sharing a common goal, but with distinct roles. Along with the Research Advisory Council, these entities include the University Research Council and University Graduate Council. The scope of each group is delineated as follows.
Research Advisory Council
The Research Advisory Council is an advocate of:
- University resources, university-wide policies, and university-wide procedures to enhance research and the visibility of research on campus
- Promoting faculty research collaboration and engagement
- Expanding student research opportunities
- Expanding support for obtaining external funding for research
University Research Council
The URC is responsible for:
- Developing guidelines for, and recommendations of, awards for internal university research grants
- Developing and recommending university research policies based upon state and federal laws and regulations
- Recommending policies and procedures to encourage research activities and to improve the research environment of the university
University Graduate Council
The University Graduate Council recommends policies and procedures relative to graduate student admission and programs, graduate faculty membership, graduate curriculum, graduate theses and dissertations, and other matters pertaining to graduate education at the university level.
RAC Members
Initial elected members will serve beginning with the 2025-26 academic year.