III.W. – Higher Education Research – 10-2023

1. Higher Education Research Council

1. Purpose
   
   The Higher Education Research Council (HERC) provides guidance to the Idaho State Board of Education in establishing and maintaining a statewide collaborative effort to drive innovation and economic development in Idaho through research and creative activity. HERC manages the use of financial resources provided to the Board by the Legislature for the purpose of promoting research activities that will have the greatest beneficial effect on the quality of education and the economy of the State. HERC also oversees the implementation of this policy and reports annually to the Board on a schedule and in a format established by the Executive Director or designee.
2. Specific Funding Programs to Strengthen Research in Idaho
   
   The Board recognizes the importance of permitting competition for research support and initiation of funds at the postsecondary institutions under the Board’s governance. Therefore, HERC shall support the following required research activities and may choose to support the following optional research activities through allocation of state funds:
   1. Infrastructure Funding (Required)
      
      A portion of the competitive research funding shall be distributed to the state’s four-year institutions to support their science, engineering, and other research infrastructure. Distribution of these funds shall be made according to guidelines approved by HERC. These funds shall be reserved for library support essential to research, graduate research assistantships, post-doctoral fellows, technician support, maintenance contracts, research equipment, competitively awarded summer research support, startup funds for new hires, and incentives to reward faculty for their research achievements.
   2. Targeted Research Funding (Optional)
      
      Faculty members at the institutions shall have an opportunity to submit research project proposals for review under a competitive grant program.
      1. All projects selected for funding under this program will demonstrate the potential for economic benefit or cost savings for the State.
      2. A major focus under this program should be start-up and seed funds that will assist a principal investigator in promoting basic or applied research; competing for external funding; and enhancing technology transfer or commercialization.
      3. Collaborative research projects are encouraged.
         
         Guidelines for this program shall be established and maintained by HERC, may incorporate an independent peer review, and shall include an evaluation component for commercial applicability for the benefit of the State.
   3. Research Centers Funding (Optional)
      
      Many important research advances are made through focused research centers. These centers should involve several faculty members from multiple institutions in conjunction with the necessary research equipment and support personnel. The funds needed to establish centers of this type should be adequate to create a critical research mass for multiple years leading to research center sustainability. State funding should be supplemented by non- state matching funds.
   4. State Matching Awards (Required)
      
      State funds shall be available to match those awarded by non-state sources by using an external peer review process. Examples of matching entities for the state matching funds include:
      1. Federal Agencies
      2. EPSCoR projects e.g., National Science Foundation, National Institute of Health, Department of Energy, Department of Defense, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, etc.
      3. Foundations
      4. Business and Industry
      5. Other, as determined by the Board on recommendation from HERC
   5. Idaho Global Entrepreneurial Mission Funding (Required)
      
      Funding under this program shall be awarded for competitive state university research in support of the goals of the Idaho Global Entrepreneurial Mission (IGEM) initiative (pursuant to H659, Section 5 (2012)). These funds are to be used as seed funding for strengthening Idaho’s future by strategically investing in the development of expertise, products, and services which result in state economic growth.
      
      Selected project proposals will be in alignment with the statewide higher education research strategic plan and will leverage the talents and expertise of Idaho’s higher education research activities and the private sector to further the economic vitality of the state; create a platform to facilitate and accelerate the transfer of technology out of Idaho’s public research facilities and into the private sector; and create new ideas, products and companies that will lead to higher-paying jobs and a strong economic foundation for Idaho.
      
      Priority shall be granted to those proposals that can show a strong collaborative effort between institutions as well as the private sector or exhibit high potential for near term technology transfer to the private sector.
      
      Further guidelines for this program shall be established by HERC, may incorporate an independent peer review of proposals, and shall include an evaluation component for identifying the project success and economic benefit to the State. Performance measures established for project post- award accountability will be specific, objective, measurable and realistic. Awards may span multiple years but shall be evaluated for effectiveness annually.
   6. Undergraduate Research Funding (Required)
      
      A portion of the competitive research funding shall be distributed to the institutions to support undergraduate research activity and the Idaho Conference on Undergraduate Research. Undergraduate research funds may be distributed to the community colleges. Distribution of these funds shall be made according to guidelines established by HERC.
3. Post-Award Accountability
   
   Any project receiving funding through any of the previously described Board sponsored programs will be required to report annually on the quality, relevance, and impact of the project.
   
   Additionally, any condition set forth in the legislative appropriation for these research programs must be demonstrably met by the programs and/or projects that are to receive the appropriation.
4. Specific criteria and reporting procedures shall be established and administered through HERC. Responsibilities and Membership of the Higher Education Research Council
   
   In order to advise the Idaho State Board of Education on the implementation of the above activities, HERC will report to the Board through the Instruction, Research and Student Affairs Committee. HERC shall be assigned the following specific responsibilities:
   1. Direct and oversee the development of a 5-year higher education statewide strategic plan for research;
   2. Direct and oversee the use of funds appropriated to the Board for higher education research;
   3. Determine and distribute to all interested parties the guidelines for submission of proposals under the competitive programs;
   4. Organize the review procedures for proposals submitted under the guidelines mandated;
   5. Monitor the quality, relevance, and impact of each funded project to warrant continued funding and to provide accountability.
      
      The membership of HERC shall consist of:
   6. the vice presidents of research from Boise State University, Idaho State University, and the University of Idaho and a representative from Lewis- Clark State College;
   7. a representative from Idaho National Laboratory (INL); and
   8. three non-institutional representatives, with consideration of geographic, private industry involvement and other representation characteristics.
      
      The Board shall appoint the three non-institutional representatives and the representative from INL. The three non-institutional representatives shall be appointed for no more than two (2) three-year terms that are initially staggered to provide a rolling renewal of appointments. All members of HERC shall have equal voting privileges.
      
      The Council shall have an Executive Committee that includes a chair, a chair- elect, and a non-institutional representative who is a member of the Council. The chair and chair-elect shall rotate annually among the vice presidents of research at the universities and the representative from Lewis-Clark State College. No chair shall serve for more than three (3) consecutive terms. The non-institutional representative shall be nominated by another non-institutional representative of the Council and shall serve no more than (1) consecutive term on the Executive Committee. Terms of office shall be based on the fiscal year.
5. Nominating Process for Non-Institutional Members
   
   HERC shall nominate non-institutional candidates for membership for Board consideration. The list of candidates, including letters of interest and biographical information, must be forwarded to the Board for consideration not less than 60 days prior to expiration of the term of a committee member, or within 30 days after any vacancy.
   1. Incumbent Reappointment of Non-Institutional Members If the incumbent candidate is interested in reappointment and is eligible to continue serving based on HERC’s current membership structure, the incumbent will provide, in writing his, or her interest in reappointment, which will be reviewed by the Executive Committee and, if approved, forwarded to the Board for consideration.
   2. Open Appointment of Non-Institutional Members
      1. HERC members shall solicit nominations with consideration given to geographic, private industry involvement, and other representation characteristics.
      2. Each nominee must provide a written statement expressing his or her interest in becoming a member of HERC. Each nominee must also provide a description of his or her qualifications and must identify his or her primary residence.
      3. HERC will review all nominations for the vacant position and will forward the qualified candidates with recommendations to the Board for consideration.
         
         The Board may, after a review of nominees pursuant to the process described herein, consider other candidates for HERC membership identified by the Board or its staff.
         
         The vice presidents for research at the universities shall serve as ex-officio members of the Council and do not require nomination or Board approval. The representative from Lewis-Clark State College shall be nominated by the president of the college, subject to Board approval. The representative from INL shall be determined by the Laboratory Director and does not require nomination but does require Board approval.

2. Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR)

1. Overview
   
   The Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) represents a federal-state partnership to enhance the science and engineering research, education, and technology capabilities of states that traditionally have received smaller amounts of federal research and development funds. As a participating state, Idaho EPSCoR shall be subject to federal program requirements and policy established by the Idaho State Board of Education (Board). The purpose of EPSCoR is to build a high-quality, academic research base to advance science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to stimulate sustainable improvements in research and development capacity and competitiveness.
2. EPSCoR Mission
   
   Idaho EPSCoR’s mission shall be to stimulate systematic and sustainable improvements in Idaho’s academic science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) research capabilities for the purpose of establishing nationally prominent research competitiveness in selected areas eligible for support by the National Science Foundation and other federal and private sponsors. It is expected that EPSCoR investments shall harmonize with the research interests of Idaho’s public universities, the State of Idaho, and Idaho’s industries. The University of Idaho, Idaho State University and Boise State University are Idaho EPSCoR partner institutions.
3. Idaho EPSCoR Committee
   
   Idaho EPSCoR shall be guided by a committee appointed by the Board.
   1. Duties and Responsibilities
      
      The Idaho EPSCoR Committee shall serve under the direction of the Board and shall oversee the implementation of the Idaho EPSCoR program and office. The Idaho EPSCoR Committee is responsible for the selection and progress of EPSCoR projects funded by various federal agencies, in accordance with agency-specific guidelines. The committee shall establish policies and procedures to ensure that EPSCoR program goals and objectives are met. These policies and procedures shall be brought to the Board for approval. The committee will carry out the following EPSCoR objectives:
      1. To catalyze key research themes and related activities within and among EPSCoR jurisdictions that empower knowledge generation, dissemination and application;
      2. To activate effective jurisdictional and regional collaborations among academic, government and private sector stakeholders that advance scientific research, promote innovation and provide multiple societal benefits;
      3. To broaden participation in science and engineering by institutions, organizations and people within and among EPSCoR jurisdictions; and
      4. To use EPSCoR for development, implementation and evaluation of future programmatic experiments that motivates positive change and progression.
   2. Operating Procedures
      
      The committee will meet in person annually, and more often by teleconference to fulfill its duties. Additional meetings may be called by the chair or at the request of three (3) or more committee members. The chair will appoint subcommittees as needed. The appointments are subject to review by the entire committee. On a regular basis, the committee shall monitor the activities of the project director and provide direction as necessary.
      
      The project director, under the direction of the chair, prepares the agenda, schedules each meeting of the committee, and maintains a written record of the committee’s activities.
      
      Membership
      
      Committee membership shall be constituted to provide for geographic, academic, business and state governmental representation. The committee shall consist of sixteen (16) members with voting privileges, composed of the following:
      1. The vice president for research or chief research officer at the University of Idaho, Idaho State University, and Boise State University;
      2. One member from each chamber of the Idaho state legislature;
      3. One representative from Idaho National Laboratory;
      4. One representative from the Idaho Department of Commerce – such individual shall be focused on economic development;
      5. The remainder shall be representatives of the private sector who have a stake in developing the state's research infrastructure or who have experience in innovation and entrepreneurial activities, applied research and development, management and finance, or community economic development.
         
         In addition, one representative of the Governor’s office and one member of the Board shall serve on the committee as ex officio members without voting rights. The member of the Board shall be appointed by the Board President.
   3. Nominating Process
      
      The Idaho EPSCoR Committee will nominate candidates for committee membership for consideration by the Board. The list of candidates must be forwarded to the Board for consideration not less than 60 days prior to expiration of the term of committee member, or within 30 days after any vacancy.
      1. Incumbent Reappointment In the event that the incumbent candidate is interested in reappointment and is eligible to continue serving, the nominating committee shall forward a recommendation to the Board, along with a letter of interest and statement of qualifications for the incumbent. The Board may choose to reappoint the incumbent without soliciting other candidates, thus completing the appointment procedures. If there is no incumbent seeking reappointment, or if the Board chooses not to reappoint an incumbent, the procedures are as outlined in item (2).
      2. Open Appointment a) The EPSCoR committee on behalf of the Board will advertise the vacancy in appropriate state, regional or local publications. Such advertisements will solicit interested persons to apply for the vacant position on the Idaho EPSCoR Committee. b) Each applicant must provide a written statement expressing his or her interest in becoming a member of the committee. Each applicant must also provide evidence of his or her qualifications and must identify his or her primary residence. c) The EPSCoR committee will review all applications for the vacant position and conduct interviews as deemed necessary. The purpose of this review is to identify the most qualified candidates for Board consideration. d) The EPSCoR committee will forward the qualified candidates, in order of preference, to the Board for consideration. The Board may provide for interviews of the candidates, if needed.
         
         The Board may, after review of the candidates nominated by the committee pursuant to the process described herein, consider other candidates for committee membership identified by the Board or its staff.
   4. Terms of Membership
      
      Committee members shall serve five-year terms with the exception of the vice presidents of research and the non-voting ex-officio members. An incumbent member may be nominated by the committee for re-appointment by the Board, but no member may serve more than three (3) consecutive terms. All terms, regardless of length, shall begin on July 1st and end on June 30th of the year(s) beginning or ending said term. Members who serve by virtue of their position, without terms, are not subject to the term limits and serve at the pleasure of the Board.
      
      Appointments will be staggered to ensure that no more than one-third (1/3) of the appointments will become vacant in any given year. An appointee who has reached the end of his or her term shall remain in service as a committee member until reappointment, or until the appointment of a new member is named and approved by the Board. Officers will be nominated and elected by a vote of the committee.
4. Reporting
   
   The committee shall prepare an annual report to the Board that details all projects by federal agency source, including reports of project progress from associated external Project Advisory Board (PAB).
5. Idaho EPSCoR Office
   
   Within guidelines specified by NSF and this policy, the EPSCoR committee shall determine and select an Idaho EPSCoR partner institution to serve as the lead institution which will house the project director for purposes of administering Idaho EPSCoR and providing support and resources to the Idaho EPSCoR Committee.
6. Idaho EPSCoR Project Leadership
   
   The project director and any associate project directors are selected by and serve under the direction of the Idaho EPSCoR Committee.
   
   The project director shall be a tenured faculty member of an Idaho EPSCoR partner institution whose qualifications must include: a successful research track record (grants and professional publications) in science or engineering, experience in research management and academic administration, and a successful record of dealing with various segments of academic institutions, government, industry, and the public.

3. Center for Advanced Energy Studies

The Center for Advanced Energy Studies (CAES) is an ongoing research collaboration among Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC (BEA), Boise State University (BSU), Idaho State University (ISU), and the University of Idaho (UI), with its main location at the ISU/CAES building in Idaho Falls. Structure and administration of the collaborative is outlined through a consortium agreement. The agreement adds structure to the CAES collaboration while continuing to recognize each CAES member as a separate governmental entity operating under each member’s own legal standing.

BSU, ISU, and UI shall report annually to Board on institution related CAES activities, including the expenditure of CAES appropriated funds through the Higher Education Research Council. The timing and format of such reports shall be established by HERC.