Interim President Richard L. McCormick announced on Thursday, May 15, the release of two committee reports intended to “chart a course” to enhance Stony Brook University’s status as a flagship institution — a goal he previously highlighted in his State of the University address last fall.
The first report focuses on ways the University could build more interdisciplinary collaboration between campus departments, emphasizing a focus on Stony Brook University Hospital and other academic disciplines.
“At the heart of the task force report is a determination to break down the barriers that have discouraged collaboration across Nicolls Road,” McCormick wrote in the announcement sent to the University community.
In their letter to McCormick, co-chairs of the Task Force Executive Vice President for Stony Brook Medicine William Wertheim and Brenda Anderson, the president of the University Senate and a professor in the Department of Psychology, emphasized that although they were tasked to consider “distinct categories for niche programs,” the current landscape of federal funding “made that difficult.”
“By focusing on foundational support, which is needed, the Task Force members believe that collaborations will develop naturally once new federal funding priorities are clearer,” Wertheim and Anderson wrote.
Some of the recommendations the group made include:
- Providing seed grants for collaborative, interdisciplinary projects or sponsor interdisciplinary competitions
- Providing public transportation or already existing bus routes to University faculty for collaborative/interdisciplinary events
- Creating collaborative courses with faculty from both campuses that would fulfill existing requirements for majors and minors
- Prioritizing cross-campus initiatives in fundraising efforts
The second report, made by the Science Futures Initiative Committee, concentrated on how the University could position itself to take advantage of “Emerging trends [that] offer significant opportunities to advance our understanding and attract crucial government and philanthropic support.”
The Committee was asked by McCormick to envision the University’s potential research landscape in 2035 and identify necessary steps to achieve that vision. Listed below are some of the recommendations the group made:
- Developing state-of-the-art core facilities for University faculty and students
- Encouraging interdisciplinary research collaboration to help secure grants
- Diversifying funding streams such as building industry partnerships and pursuing large federal grants while strengthening state investments
- Strategically target hiring of mid-career interdisciplinary researchers for non-tenure track positions
Member of both committees and Vice President for Research Kevin Gardner wrote to The Statesman about how “spirited discussions around how to equitably allocate shared resources” led to productive tension.
“It forced us to think creatively about governance models that are fair, transparent, and mission-driven,” Gardner wrote. “What emerged from those conversations is a deeper understanding that collaboration doesn’t mean compromise [ — ] it means co-ownership. And co-ownership requires trust, which takes work. The fact that the group stayed at the table and found common ground is something I’m very proud of.”
Member of the Committee and Task Force and Executive Vice President and Provost Carl Lejuez wrote in an email to The Statesman about how the two recommendations give individuals greater control in shaping their collaborative efforts.
“A strength of both of these reports is that they deliberately allow for flexibility,” Lejuez wrote. “One of the best things we can do as administrators is to help bring people together to ask questions, find answers and then ensure that the necessary support and structures are in place. And then we get out of the way to let the faculty, researchers and clinicians decide how to use those answers and systems.”
McCormick clarified that these reports will be shared with incoming President Andrea Goldsmith for her consideration when she assumes her position on Friday, Aug. 1.
