Others are still here but were not funded last year. We need to replace faculty who have left with faculty who can compete for research grants. We have to make this one of our highest priorities. We need to be able to compete with other universities to recruit new researchers and provide existing faculty with facilities, equipment and other resources needed to help do the research. We need to allocate funds to be competitive.
Competition is tough.
The university s mission is to generate and disseminate knowledge and provide public service as a public institution. For example, when you need someone to do your taxes, you want someone who is on the cutting edge. If you or your loved ones are going in for surgery, you want the surgeon to know the 1999 methods. Knowledge is generated in this country and in the world by people who do research. A Research Retreat was held recently to discuss how to increase the research budget.