Dear Colleagues:

As several other universities are currently doing, we have initiated
faculty hiring plans to add 250 new faculty over the next 3 - 5 years.
Most, if not all, of these new hires will be expected to either bring in
or establish significant funded research programs.  With this
significant infusion of new researchers, we face issues with getting
their research projects initiated in a timely manner (e.g. setting up
lab space, hiring lab personnel, installing phones and computers, etc.)
At the same time, we have approximately 300 faculty who will be retiring
and many of their replacements will be bringing in established research
programs.  In other words, we are in for a massive infusion of new
researchers over this 5 year timeframe.  While this is a good "problem"
to have, we need to prepare for this influx.

It has been suggested by one of our advisory groups that we set up a
"SWAT" (quick response) team to facilitate these infrastructure and HR
needs.  The team's sole purpose is to expedite internal
communications/processes so that the researchers can focus on their work
instead of "administrivia."

Do any of you have such a mechanism in place?  If so, what is
composition of team, qualifications for team members, etc?

Your responses will be appreciated.

Steve Etheredge

R. Steven Etheredge
Director, Pre-Award Services
Sponsored Awards Management
University of South Carolina
(803) 777-4457
(803) 777-4136 fax
xxxxxx@gwm.sc.edu

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