I feel very strongly that the Research Office should be on the Academic
side of any institution.  Having spent a lot of time on both sides (i.e.,
faculty side vs. administrative side) I think that it is impreative that the
Research Office be on the "WE" side of the WE/THEY relationship that
invariably is established between the faculty and the administration in most
institutions.  Admittedly you must walk a fine line between the two since it
is your responsibility to enforce institutional, as well as agency, policies
vis a vis research, but the PRIMARY purpose of a Research Office (in my
opinion) is to support faculty research/sponsored program needs.  I find that
being a colleague to the faculty is essential to that role.  Were I, or this
office, viewed as another administrative department making demands on them and
erecting barriers that they must get over we could not do our job nearly as
well as I think we do not.

Doug Wilkerson, Ph.D.           VOICE:  (419) 381-4252
Assoc. V.P. for Research        FAX:    (419) 381-4262
Professor of Pharmacology       e-mail: xxxxxx@GEMINI.MCO.EDU
Medical College of Ohio
3000 Arlington Ave.
Toledo, OH 43614