Publications
Since 1997, the Merrill Center has published a series of papers on the Research Mission of Public Universities. All publications are available in print and online at https://journals.ku.edu/merrill, through Journals@KU, an initiative of the KU Libraries that supports the KU community in the publication of scholarly journals online. Additionally, the Merrill Center has eight scientific books that highlight the latest interdisciplinary approaches to disability across the life span – from infancy to old age.
Mission Retreat White Papers
These white papers represent exchanges between faculty and administrators who are committed to nationally-competitive research at their state schools. At the annual Merrill retreat, participants share best practices for supporting innovative faculty, building research programs between institutions, and enhancing institutional rankings.
Hot topics have included:
- The decline in support from state governments for their higher education institutions
- Contributions scientists can make in the war on terrorism
- How to build public advocacy for research
- How to collaborate with business and increase R&D dollars
- How to evaluate entrepreneurial faculty and give credit to programs that train scientists for industry
- Should funding by the National Institutes of Health be considered the gold standard?
- Should administrators target niche programs in their quest for excellence?
- How has graduate education changed as the university becomes more entrepreneurial?
White papers, 1997-2021:
2022: Surviving and Anticipating Waves of Change in Public Research Universities (Coming Soon)
2021: Planning for Research After Covid
2019: Challenges for Implementation of Cross-Disciplinary Research in the Big Data Era
2016: Building Research Infrastructure: Planning for Future Needs and Implementing for Change
2015: Research Innovation as a Pathway to the Future
2014: Planning for Future Research in Public Universities in Uncertain Times
2013: Planning for Research Excellence in the Era of Analytics
2012: Information Systems as Infrastructure for University Research Now and in the Future
2011: Behavioral and Social Sciences as Key Components in National Research Initiatives
2010: Sustaining and Enhancing the Research Mission of Public Universities
2009: Regional Research Collaborations
2008: Global Research Collaborations
2007: Future Directions for Federal Research Funding
2006: The Privatization of Public Universities: Implications for the Research Mission
2005: The Interface of Science and Public Policy
2004: Riding the Momentum of Research: Leadership Challenges in Public Research Universities
2003: Recruiting and Training Future Scientists: How Policy Shapes the Mission of Graduate Education
2002: Science at a Time of National Emergency
2001: Evaluating Research Productivity
2000: Making Research a Part of the Public Agenda
1999: Building Cross-University Alliances that Enhance Research
1998: Mobilizing for Research Opportunities in the Next Century
1997: Planning for the Research Mission of Public Universities in the Twenty-first Century