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.

2026-27 Charges

In addition to its specific responsibilities listed in the Research and Creative Scholarship Council’s role statement and the work of its standing committees if such exist, 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. Continue to 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. In collaboration with the Campus Planning and Finance Council, determine resources and/or methods to recycle/refurbish/sell expired research equipment. Conclude the initiative by producing a report to the Executive Board or a Memorandum of Action.
3. Examine procedures for the review process leading to the selection of the Faculty Research and Creative Activities Award recipients, with particular attention to minimizing the impact of possible bias and offering a level playing field for all applicants. Determine what new or revised policies and procedures may be required, and implement them.
4. Consider Memorandum of Actions and Office of Research and Innovation policies previously deemed to be under the purview of the RCSC that should be included in the review cycles (externally or federally mandated policies have been removed from RCSC purview). RCSC should determine a review schedule for policies within its scope, as well as for policies that were adopted by WMU and determine how these facilitate or hamper research and scholarship. Conclude the initiative by producing a report to the Executive Board or a Memorandum of Action.
5. Review the guidelines, policies, and eligibility of the Faculty Research, Scholarship, 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. Review the scope and description of the council’s role and assess the effectiveness of the council's practices.
9. 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.
10. 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. 28, 2026

Printable version of the RCSC 2026-27 Charges.

REPORTING: 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 2027-28 academic year, no later than May 30, 2027. Reports should be submitted using the Year-End Report template.