Charter

Charge

The purpose of the RCAC is to develop and oversee research technology standards and priorities to create an institutional research cyberinfrastructure plan that supports and advances research at UNCG. 

While RCAC 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

RCAC is focused on building effectively aligned technology infrastructure, policies, practices, and resources that are of high value to researchers and meet federal and state IT compliance requirements for contracts and grants. 

Committee Authority

The RCAC is a decision-making body that reviews and prioritizes institutional research technology needs, requests, and 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 cyberinfrastructure required to support their research.
• Provide strategic direction and recommended investment priorities for research cyberinfrastructure to the Executive Steering Committee
  • review and recommend IT services that support institutional research needs
  • anticipate future cyberinfrastructure needs and identify supporting science drivers
  • develop and maintain UNCG Research Cyberinfrastructure Standards
  • develop and maintain UNCG Research Cyberinfrastructure Plan
• 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 Institutional cyberinfrastructure
  • develop grant-based funding models for research cyberinfrastructure procurement and implementation
  • assess and recommend opportunities to develop new campus funding models to support institutional research cyberinfrastructure
• Advocate for adoption of common institutional research cyberinfrastructure 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 cyberinfrastructure and develop/support effective strategies to ensure that faculty researchers fully understand services provided.
• Facilitate research technology workshops and training as appropriate to ensure faculty can successfully leverage research cyberinfrastructure.
• Provide support and guidance for research cyberinfrastructure related proposals.
• Make recommendations for modification of the Committee charge as needed to reflect campus and environmental changes.

Membership

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

• (Co-Chair) Associate Vice Chancellor for Research and Engagement
• (Co-Chair) Associate Vice Chancellor for Enterprise Technology Infrastructure and Chief Technology
• Officer, ITS
• Digital Technology Consultant in University Libraries
• Professor and Department Chair for Computer Science in the College of Arts and Sciences
• Associate Professor of Economics in the Bryan School
• Assistant Professor in the Office of Research in the School of Health & Human Sciences
• Assistant Professor of Computer Science in the College of Arts and Sciences
• Clinical Professor in Family and Community Nursing in the School of Nursing
• Professor and Department Chair for Nanoscience in the Joint School of Nanoscience & Nanoengineering
• Professor, Department Chair, and Director of the Office of Assessment, Evaluation, and Research
• Services in the School of Education
• Additional appointees as designated by the committee chair(s)

Accountability

RCAC 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 if possible. 
• Actively share information about RCAC’s work including decisions 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 RCAC reports jointly to the RAC and Executive Steering Committee.

Committee Procedures

• The RCAC committee chair(s) will establish procedures for capturing minutes, communicating decisions, and periodically reviewing and updating the committee charge as needed.
• The RCAC meets quarterly throughout the calendar year.
• The RCAC committee chair(s) serve as the committee liaison to the ESC and are responsible for recording and communicating committee decisions to campus.