At 08:12 AM 7/31/96 -0400, you wrote:
>I see this issue being constantly raised by public institutions and my
>first response is:
>
>WHY DO YOU WANT TO DO THIS???
>
>The answers I receive are usually not compelling or clear but many times
>the underlying message is that the Foundation is being considered because
>it will be "free" of the university and state controls.  My personal
>experience is that this argument fails the "duck test" everytime.
>
>If it walks and quacks like a duck, it's a duck.
>
>The firewalls that should exist typically do  not.  For example, state
>employees work at the Foundation but the Foundation will want to subsidize
>salaries for some employees "for excellent performance" even though they
>would not be allowed this through state channels.
>
>I would be vary wary of doing this without alot of thought and without
>gathering the opinions of individuals who have done this in the past
>decade.
>
>> TONY -
 THANKS FOR THE CAVEATS.  I DO PLAN TO LIST A NUMBER OF THOSE WHEN I
PRESENT MY ASSESSMENT TO OUR POWERS-THAT-BE.  INCIDENTALLY, ONE KEY ISSUE
FOR US, AS A UNIT OF THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF GEORGIA, IS THAT WE ARE RULED
BY THE DOCTRINE OF THE FISCAL YEAR MAGIC ACT--I.E., EVERYTHING, INCLUDING
RECOVERED INDIRECT COSTS (A.K.A. FACILITIES AND ADMINISTRATION), MUST BE
SPENT/ENCUMBERED BY JUNE 30; OR IT IS LOST.  A RESEARCH FOUNDATION WOULD
FACILITATE OUR DEVELOPMENT OF A RESEARCH SUPPORT FUND WHICH WOULD HAVE A
CHANCE TO GROW.

REGARDS,
HOWIE

>>    Georgia Southern University is considering setting up a Research
>>Foundation.
>>    At this time, we have only a "generic" foundation which is associated with
>>    our Development Office.
>>
>>    I would be interested in receiving any information that relates to such
>>    issues as:  Articles of Incorporation (incidentally, Georgia Southern is a
>>    public institution; a unit of the University System of Georgia);
>>    relationships with the Research and Sponsored Programs Office (for us,
this
>>    has meant "pre-award, with some nonfiscal post-award"); relationships with
>>    the Grants and Contracts Office (i.e., an office which is responsible for
>>    the fiscal issues, primarily post-award); avoiding duplication of effort,
>>    personnel, etc.; impact on distribution of Indirect Costs (for the
>>feds, now
>>    referred to as "Facilities and Administrative" costs); start-up
>>    considerations, including costs; some of the benefits; some of the
>>    shortcomings/hassles; incorporating as a nonprofit; having a for-profit
>>    component/affiliate; is your organization currently planning any
changes in
>>    the way you're dealing with the above issues?
>>
>>    That's a mouthful!  If you have any relevant documents I can get from your
>>    Web or Gopher sites, that also would be quite helpful.  THANKS.
>>
>>    Howie Kaplan
>>    Director of Research Services and Sponsored Programs
>
>*****************
>Anthony M. Boccanfuso, Ph.D.
>Director
>Office of Sponsored Programs and Research
>Bowling Green State University
>Bowling Green, Ohio 43403
>419-372-2481; 419-372-0304 (fax)
>http://www.bgsu.edu/offices/spar/HomePage.html
>