RD290 - The Commonwealth’s Research Initiative Virginia Commonwealth University 2008 Report - September 30, 2008


Executive Summary:
The 2006 General Assembly made an historic appropriation in providing operating support from the general fund for higher education research in the 2006-08 biennium. Item 205, Chapter 3, 2006 Acts of Assembly (*1), provided $3.1 million GF in FY 2007 and FY 2008 for this purpose to Virginia Commonwealth University. At the direction of the General Assembly, and in keeping with VCU Board of Visitors’ recently approved research strategic plan (February 2005), the state support for medical research has been critical to strengthening the School’s research enterprise.

As a condition of the FY 2008 appropriation, the General Assembly required that the University leverage the state’s support with $6.6 million in nongeneral funds – for a total investment of $9.7 million for the fiscal year. In addition, the University carried forward $2.1 million GF from FY 2007 that had been committed but not yet expensed. This report summarizes FY 2008 expenditures, provides an overview of funds that have been committed for FY 2009 and FY 2010, and identifies opportunities for future investments as called for by the Appropriation Act. Specifically, Item 205 B of the Appropriation Act states:

Virginia Commonwealth University shall report on the use of these funds and progress made under this initiative to the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees by October 1, 2007. The report shall include, but not be limited to: 1) how the funds were used, 2) the amount of federal and private funds that were leveraged, 3) collaborative efforts in support of private industry, 4) the number of junior and senior faculty recruited in each field, 5) the amount of federal or other grant funds received as the result of those recruitments, 6) additional grants or contracts being pursued, 7) the level of instructional activity conducted by these faculty, 8) the impact of research activities on undergraduate instruction, 9) the use of graduate student aid funds, and 10) recommendations for future investment.
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(*1) This item remains unchanged in the amended Appropriation Act enacted during the 2007 session (Item 205B, Chapter 847, 2007 Acts of Assembly).