Colorado State University Designates 14 Programs of Research and Scholarly Excellence

Fourteen departments, centers and interdisciplinary projects have been designated Programs of Research and Scholarly Excellence at Colorado State University.

The designations, to take effect July 1, recognize the quality of work being done by these units and "continue strategies for nurturing and supporting excellence," according to Colorado State President Albert C. Yates.

While research and scholarship remain the cornerstone of Colorado State’s land-grant status and have led to its classification as a prestigious Carnegie Foundation Research I university, the designations are intended to identify and encourage those programs with national or international stature.

"It is clear that if we are to achieve still higher levels of distinction as a comprehensive research university, we must continue strategies for nurturing and supporting excellence," Yates said. "The university’s strategic planning process gives research and scholarly programs significant consideration."

Periodically recognizing those programs–grouped as biotechnology and biosciences, human and animal health, environmental and ecological sciences, social sciences and physical and engineering sciences–helps self-evaluation, guides budgetary decisions and recognizes interdisciplinary and collegial endeavors, Yates said.

Programs of Research and Scholarly Excellence for 1999 include the Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology Laboratory; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Neurosciences Program; Program in Infectious Diseases; Department of Occupational Therapy; Radiological Health Sciences and Cancer Research Program; Department of Atmospheric Science; Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory; Center for Environmental Toxicology and Technology; Tri-Ethnic Center for Prevention Research; Center for Research on Writing and Communication Technologies; Department of Chemistry; Optoelectronic Computing Systems Center; and Water Management Science and Technology Program.

Yates said that "this is not an exhaustive list of outstanding programs" but described them as "areas in which the university has achieved real distinction and which will benefit from continued institutional support."

The program began in 1991 when Yates designated 11 Programs of Research and Scholarly Excellence and six emerging programs. In 1994, 14 programs were named.

The process to choose the 14 programs effective in July began in spring of 1998 with self-evaluations, reviews by top academic and research officials and, in the fall, nominations by deans that again underwent broad reviews.