Research and Creative Scholarship Council

Role statement

The Research and Creative Scholarship Council advocates for discovery in the University by developing, reviewing, and recommending policies that support and enhance research and creative activities, which may be funded or unfunded, and may involve graduate or undergraduate students.

Council Standing Committees 

1. Agenda Committee—prepares the agenda for council meetings and proposals for Council consideration.
2. Research Screening Committee—oversees the administration of the Research Innovation and Scholarly Expenditures; evaluates all final reports from awardees; determines future eligibility of applicants; makes recommendations to RCSC for changes in RISE policy to promote more efficient operation of the program and/or better encourage research at Western Michigan University; and assesses the outcomes of the RISE by determining research contributions in the form of publications, papers and seed money for external funding.

Charges 2025-26

In addition to its specific responsibilities listed in the Research and Creative Scholarship Council’s role statement and the work of its standing committees including but not limited to the Research Screening Committee, the Faculty Senate Executive Board charges the RCSC to consider, as a committee of the whole or through the appropriate committee or task force, the following:

1. Explore opportunities, threats, and challenges with respect to Artificial Intelligence as it relates to the RCSC and communicate findings to the Academic and Information Technology Council and the Executive Board.
2. Review the guidelines, policies, and eligibility of the Faculty Research, and Creative Activities Support Fund (FRACASF) and the comprised programs with the goal of increasing their utilization by faculty, including investigating strategies to increase the number of quality proposals submitted across all disciplines.
3. Review MOA-19/08: Creation of the Eligibility to Serve as a WMU Principal Investigators on Sponsored Projects Policy in order to ensure consistency with regards to emeriti. Conclude the initiative by producing a report to the Executive Board or a Memorandum of Action.
4. Conduct an annual review of the state of research ethics policies and procedures in collaboration with the Office of Research and Innovation. Initiate changes or additions where appropriate. Conclude the initiative by producing a report to the Executive Board or a Memorandum of Action.
5. Consider which of the MOAs previously deemed to be under the purview of the RCSC that should be included in the review cycles. Rather than MOAs RCSC should evaluate policies that were adopted by WMU and evaluate how these facilitate or hamper research and scholarship. Some policies are mandated by the federal government, or administered by other councils, or by the Office of Research and Innovation. Determine which policies belong to RCSC.
6. Review procedures related to all aspects of the Faculty Research and Creative Activiteis Award (FRACAA) and Support for Faculty Scholars Award (SFSA) and recommend changes to the Office of Research and Innovation. Conclude the initiative by producing a report to the Executive Board or a Memorandum of Action.
7. Continue to collaborate with the Office of Research and Innovation in developing strategies to support faculty to advance research and creative scholarship. Provide recommendations to strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration to build compelling research proposals. Conclude the initiative by producing a report to the Executive Board or a Memorandum of Action.
8. Investigate ways by which faculty who are currently in administrative roles, but still research active, can be supported either by allowing them to compete in the Faculty Research, Scholarship and Creative Activities Support Fund (FRSACASF) programs, or through a separate mechanism. Conclude the initiative by producing a report to the Executive Board or a Memorandum of Action.
9. Review the scope and description of the council’s role and assess the effectiveness of the council's practices.
10. At the annual April RCSC meeting, the council members must review the draft year-end report, to be submitted to the Faculty Senate office, by the council chair no later than May 30.
11. Address any continuing or outstanding issues or initiatives as directed by the Faculty Senate Executive Board, members of the council, faculty, and/or academic administrators. Conclude the initiative by producing a report to the Executive Board or a Memorandum of Action.

Approved by the Faculty Senate Executive Board on Aug. 22, 2025

Click here for a printable version of the RCSC 2025-26 Charges.

The RCSC chairperson shall provide a written report of the council’s accomplishments and progress for the year; list the above charges noting each item’s progress and current status; any other activities undertaken; and draft charges for the 2026-27 academic year, no later than May 30, 2026.