EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This policy establishes the SFU Research Excellence Awards program to recognize and celebrate SFU researchers for Research Excellence and provide a pathway to prestigious national and international research award nominations. This policy and related procedures also establish the SFU Research Excellence Awards Advisory Committee to issue the annual Call for Nominations including award categories and selection criteria, review candidate submissions, and make recommendations for awardees to the Vice-President, Research and International.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.0    PURPOSE
2.0    SCOPE AND JURISDICTION
3.0    DEFINITIONS
4.0    POLICY
5.0    ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
6.0    RELATED LEGAL, POLICY AUTHORITIES AND AGREEMENTS
7.0    ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND PROTECTION OF PRIVACY
8.0    RETENTION AND DISPOSAL OF RECORDS
9.0    POLICY REVIEW
10.0  POLICY AUTHORITY
11.0  INTERPRETATION
12.0  PROCEDURES AND OTHER ASSOCIATED DOCUMENTS

1.0     PURPOSE

1.1    The purpose of this policy is to establish the SFU Research Excellence Awards program (“the Awards”) and the SFU Research Excellence Awards Committee (the “Advisory Committee”).

2.0     SCOPE AND JURISDICTION

2.1    These Awards are intended to recognize and reward Research Faculty Members of any rank for Research Excellence. In the case of a team award, while non-faculty members of a research team may be named in the award citation, the research grant will be awarded in the name of the lead faculty member.

2.2    This policy applies to all institutional-level awards recognizing Research Excellence at SFU. It does not apply to awards conferred by individual Faculties, departments and units.

3.0     DEFINITIONS

3.1    Please see Appendix A: SFU Research Excellence Awards Definitions for the definitions of words used in this policy and its associated procedure.  

4.0    POLICY

4.1    The purpose of these Awards is to establish a university-wide formal mechanism to recognize Research Excellence and may provide a pathway to nomination for external research awards.

4.2    The Awards will be offered annually. In any given competition year, the number of awards granted by the VPRI may vary depending on the submissions received and the budget available.

4.3    The Awards may recognize research excellence at different career stages and areas of expertise as defined in the award categories that will be set by the Advisory Committee in its annual Call for Nominations.

4.4    The VPRI shall establish the Advisory Committee as set out in Appendix B: SFU Research Excellence Awards Advisory Committee Terms of Reference.    

5.0    ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

5.1    The VPRI has the authority to:

5.1.1    Establish, grant, and administer the Awards according to University policy and make any changes they deem necessary; and

5.1.2    Establish and modify the Advisory Committee’s responsibilities and powers as set out in Appendix B: SFU Research Excellence Awards Advisory Committee Terms of Reference.

5.2    The Advisory Committee has the authority to:    

5.2.1    Adjudicate the Awards and advance recommendations of Awardees to the Vice-President, Research and International (“the VPRI”); and    

5.2.2    Regularly review and recommend changes to the Procedure and Call for Nominations.

6.0    RELATED LEGAL, POLICY AUTHORITIES AND AGREEMENTS

6.1    The legal and other University Policy authorities and agreements that may bear on the administration of this policy and may be consulted as needed include but are not limited to:

           6.1.1    University Act, RSBC 1996, c 468

           6.1.2     Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, RSBC 1996, c 16

7.0    ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND PROTECTION OF PRIVACY

7.1    The information and records made and received to administer this policy are subject to the access to information and protection of privacy provisions of British Columbia’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and the University’s Information Policy series.

8.0    RETENTION AND DISPOSAL OF RECORDS

8.1    Information and records made and received to administer this policy are evidence of the University’s actions to recognize and award Research Excellence. Information and records must be retained and disposed of in accordance with a records retention schedule approved by the University Archivist.

9.0    POLICY REVIEW

9.1   This policy must be reviewed every three years and may always be reviewed as needed.

10.0    POLICY AUTHORITY

10.1    This policy is administered under the authority of the VPRI.

11.0    INTERPRETATION

11.1    Questions of interpretation or application of this policy or its procedures shall be referred to the VPRI whose decision shall be final.

12.0    PROCEDURES AND OTHER ASSOCIATED DOCUMENTS

12.1    The procedures for this policy are: SFU Research Excellence Awards Procedure.

12.2    Appendix A: SFU Research Excellence Awards Definitions contains the definitions and criteria applicable to this policy and its associated procedures.

12.3    Appendix B: SFU Research Excellence Awards Advisory Committee Terms of Reference sets out the Advisory Committee’s appointment process, membership, meetings and quorum, and roles and responsibilities.