Issues with Current Relationships/Barriers to an Effective Relationship: 



Just as there is no monolithic NASA university program, there are often differing views of universities and of 

 NASA. Recently the NASA Advisory Council appointed an ad hoc University Relations Task Force to look at the 

 health of the NASA/university relationship. The Task Force was composed primarily of representatives from "re- 

 search-intensive" universities so their concerns are relevant to the task of this Ad Hoc FCCSET Working Group. 

 Their major concerns are outlined below: 



•> In the space science disciplines, there is a perception within the university community of reduced flight op- 

 portunities because of the perceived emphasis on big science (Great Observatories, EOS) versus smaller 

 science opportunities. 



• In the aeronautics and space technology disciplines there is concern about the perceived imbalance between 

 in-house and external (university) research. 



• At the policy level, there is a perceived need for an explicitly stated and uniformly followed policy outlin- 

 ing NASA's responsibihty for maintaining the health of its university base. 



• At the practical level, there is a feeling that the diversity in NASA's university activities has led to a cum- 

 bersome, often confusing, administrative interface. 



• There is concern that both the Federal government and the academic community must take more aggressive 

 action to develop researchers who are women, underrepresented minorities and persons with disabilities 



• There is an expressed desire for policy level planning for specific future work force projections that will be 

 regularly communicated to the university community. 



• There is also concern that an emphasis on increased competition or the broadening of research participation 

 opportunities is leading to an increasing number of small, short-term grants. 



• Others express concerns about the general economic situation that results in universities having less money 

 in general and the Federal government having less to give to universities. This, in turn, produces significant 

 anxiety about the state of the Nation's research infrastructure; equipment and facilities on university cam- 

 puses are in a serious state of decline. 



NASA, too, has some concerns: 



• Given recent allegations concerning university overhead practices, the agency wants to obtain the best 

 value for its expenditures and to trust that overhead rates are fair and reflect the true cost of doing business 

 with the agency. 



• Much has been written recently about the state of undergraduate education. NASA is concerned about the 

 preparation and qualifications of its future workforce. 



• NASA (or any other Federal agency) cannot be responsible for rebuilding the entire university research in- 

 frastructure. Universities must understand that Federal research expenditures are limited. 



Elements/Characteristics of a Productive Future Relationship: 



The NASA University Relations Task Force developed a set of suggestions for an improved relationship: 



• A uniform, well-thought-out set of policies should be developed that govern the selection of university col- 

 laborators agency wide. 



• A single point of contact for universities should be established within the agency. 



• The use of multi-year grants should be increased for broader based research programs. 



• The agency should continue its emphasis on simplifying administrative processes related to procurement. 



• Policies should be developed to improved the mission mix, including both small and large flight oppor- 

 tunities for university research. 



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