IT Governance | Research Technology Advisory Committee | Charter

Charter

Charge

The Research Technology Advisory Committee (RTAC) is a sub-committee of the Research Advisory Council (RAC) and is responsible for advising the ESC on research technology needs, requests, and investments.    

While RTAC members are expected to understand and represent the needs of their direct constituents (workgroup, department, school, college, division), their role on this IT governance committee mandates a personal charge for each member to effectively participate in collaborative decision-making that best advances the overarching university strategic priorities and ensures that institutional technology resources are aligned toward best and highest use for the campus at large.  

Scope

The purpose of the Research Technology Advisory Committee (RTAC) is to develop and recommend research technology standards and priorities that support and advance research at UNCG.  RTAC is focused on ensuring alignment of research technology infrastructure, policies, practices, and resource needs to federal and state IT and contract and grant requirements.   

Committee Authority

The RTAC is the research advisory body to the ESC that reviews and recommends standards, policies, and priorities for research technology investments.  

Recommendations that result in any one of the following conditions must be escalated to the Executive Steering Committee for a final decision: 

  • Cost to implement beyond existing budget.  
  • Requirement for university policy changes. 
  • Majority voting consensus cannot be reached among committee members. 

Responsibilities

  • Develop mechanisms to effectively engage research faculty to assess their needs and ensure that they have access to the technology required to support their research. 
  • Provide strategic direction and recommended investment priorities for research technology to the Executive Steering Committee 
    • review and recommend IT services that support research needs 
    • anticipate future technology needs and identify supporting use cases 
    • develop and maintain UNCG Research Technology Standards 
  • Facilitate the development of policy, services and support structures designed to ensure effective resource management, security of research data, and IT compliance for contracts and grants. 
  • Ensure sustainability for research technology 
    • develop grant-based funding models for research technology procurement and implementation 
    • assess and recommend opportunities to develop new campus funding models to support research technology  
  • Advocate for adoption of common research technology solutions and services, as appropriate, and help maintain an effective balance of institution-wide and local department provided research technology services and support. 
  • Increase awareness of available research technology and develop/support effective strategies to ensure that faculty researchers fully understand services provided. 
  • Facilitate workshops and training as appropriate to ensure faculty can successfully leverage research technology. 
  • Provide support and guidance for research technology related proposals. 

Membership

The committee chair(s) is appointed by the Vice Chancellor for Research with approval from the ESC. Membership in the RTAC is based on appointment by the committee chair(s) with approval by Vice Chancellor for Research and the ESC. Current members are:

  • (Co-Chair) Associate Vice Chancellor for Enterprise Technology Infrastructure and Chief Technology Officer
  • (Co-Chair) VC Research Appointee
  • Research faculty appointed by Committee Chair/VC Research/Deans
  • Enterprise Research Infrastructure Manager

Accountability

RTAC members are expected to:

  • Review materials provided prior to each meeting and conduct additional inquiry or research so they can come to meetings prepared to discuss topics from an informed position.
  • Attend each of the regular meetings as well as additional meetings as needed. 
  • Actively share information about RTAC’s work including recommendations made, questions considered, emerging issues, and opportunities for engagement and feedback with departments, schools and divisions in a manner that ensures transparency and broad awareness.

The RTAC reports to the Executive Steering Committee.

Committee Procedures

  • The RTAC committee chair(s) will establish procedures for capturing minutes and communicating recommendations.
  • The RTAC meets at least quarterly throughout the calendar year.
  • The RTAC committee chair(s) serve as the committee liaison to the ESC and are responsible for recording and communicating committee decisions to campus.

Research Technology Advisory Committee
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