Life After NSF Funding: An Assessment of Self-Sustaining Industry-University Cooperative Research Centers

工业/大学合作研究中心 “自给自足”的道路通常由NSF资助， 年期间。 在此期间，评估协议提供了 关于产业/大学互动的数据以及其他因素， 影响中心的地位。 直到最近， 在实现“自给自足”后， 该项目正在评估 通过问卷调查的“自我维持”中心。 的目标 研究的目的是：1）评估中心的现状， 不再接受NSF资助; 2）描述过程 自我维持以及中心如何应对 挑战; 3）确定功能和功能失调的做法， 应对这一转变的战略; 4）制定 关于提高使用率和便利性的建议， 运营中心可以自我维持。 国家科学基金会和联合校长 研究人员已经同意扩大研究范围，并增加一个 研究工业/大学合作的影响的任务 研究中心的经验，态度和职业道路的 研究生。 参与中心的研究生将 与那些没有参与的人相比。 两组的研究将 在研究生院和毕业后做的。 共同主要研究者是著名的专家， 有资格进行研究。 项目经理建议北卡罗来纳州 大学（与佛罗里达大学合作） 为这项研究提供了一年38，173美元，其中包括 $5，000用于题为“对毕业生的影响”的附加任务 参加工业资助研究的学生。"

Industry/University Cooperative Research Centers on a path to "self-sufficiency" are funded by NSF generally for a five year period. During this period an evaluation protocol provides data on industry/university interaction and other factors that effect the Center's status. Until recently, no data was planned to be collected after "self-sufficiency" was attained. This project is conducting an assessment of "self-sustaining" centers via a questionnaire. The objectives of the study are to: 1) assess the current status of Centers which no longer receive NSF funding; 2) describe the process of becoming self-sustaining and how Centers respond to this challenge; 3) identify functional and dysfunctional practices and strategies for coping with this transition; 4) develop recommendations for improving the rate and ease with which operating Centers become self-sustaining. The National Science Foundation and the Co-Principal Investigators have agreed to increase the research scope and add a task to study the impact of Industry/University Cooperative Research Centers on the experiences, attitudes and career paths of graduate students. Graduate students involved in a center will be compared with those not involved. Studies of both groups will be made while in graduate school and after graduating. The Co-Principal Investigators are noted experts and well qualified to perform the studies. The Program Manager recommends that the North Carolina State University (in collaboration with the University of Florida) be awarded $38,173 for one (1) year for this study which includes $5,000 for the added task entitled "The Impact on Graduate Students of Participating in Industry Funded Research."