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Water Resources
Center Strategic Plan
MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the Water Resources Center (WRC) is to encourage,
conduct, and coordinate water resources research and related
activities on the Texas Tech University campus. With primary
emphasis placed on critical water problems of the Panhandle and High
Plains of Texas, WRC programs expand to encompass state, national
and international water and environmental issues of common concern.
VISION STATEMENT
The Water Resources Center will be a nationally recognized center of
excellence, with programs incorporating research, education and
service directed toward solutions to water problems in the following
areas:
• Augmentation – increasing the supply of available water.
• Conservation – reducing demands by increasing efficiency of water
use.
• Protection – preventing pollution and restoring the quality of
existing supplies.
Goals, Critical Success Factors, and Objectives
(including Strategies and Assessments)
Goal 1. Research Excellence: Develop solid, nationally
recognized and respected programs in water resources and
environmental research.
Critical Success Factors (next 5 years):
• Leverage line item funding to a ratio of 4-5:1.
• Sustained levels of extramural research funding of $1 million
annually.
• 10-15 faculty members annually engaged in research through the WRC.
• At least 20 graduate students (15 MS and 5 PhD) supported through
WRC research activities.
Objectives:
Objective 1.1: Enhance strengths and capabilities in three to four
specific areas, including water recycling and reuse, groundwater
remediation, and surface water hydrology/water quality interactions.
Strategies:
• Double line item support.
• Support recruitment of faculty in areas of physical/chemical
treatment, air pollution/meteorological modeling and surface water
quality/hydrology.
• Support current and new faculty with seed grants and mentoring
programs.
Assessments:
• Level of line item support.
• Number of new faculty with expertise in key areas.
• Level of participation at national, international conferences.
• Number of journal publications.
Objective 1.2: Augment existing expertise and support capabilities
to expand into additional research areas as opportunities develop.
Strategies:
• Add research and laboratory support staff.
• Support equipment and software acquisition.
• Support laboratory space expansion efforts.
Assessments:
• Number of research and laboratory support staff.
• Laboratory analytical capabilities.
• Computer and software capabilities.
Objective 1.3: Target key federal agencies to increase external
funding, focusing on large-dollar, multi-year research contracts.
Strategies:
• Expand recent and ongoing federal research programs.
• Establish ties with EPA, DOD, DOE, and others.
• Develop successful proposals for long-term federal projects.
Assessments:
• Number of projects and research programs.
• Research dollars generated.
• Leveraging ratios.
Goal 2. Partnerships: Build strategic partnerships and
alliances to enhance research programs of the WRC and to support
related teaching and service missions.
Critical Success Factors (measures of the degree of success over the
next 5 years):
• New partnerships with colleges, institutes and centers at TTU as
well as other universities.
• Support to research faculty engaging in partnership development
through professional activities, advisory boards and networking
activities.
• Interdisciplinary collaboration with researchers at TTU and other
universities, federal and state agencies, and institutions.
• 5-10 proposals with targeted partners per year.
Objectives:
Objective 2.1: Develop a competitive edge in securing research by
engaging in partnerships with other university centers and
institutes, public agencies, and consultants and others in the
private sector.
Strategies:
• Identify and facilitate opportunities.
• Generate proposals with partners identified through symposia and
other communication tools.
• Build on recent successful partnerships to continue and expand
research partnerships with the Department of Energy, the Department
of Defense, Pantex, and others.
Assessments:
• Number of partnerships developed.
• Number of research proposals generated.
• Joint publications.
• Amount of funding.
Objective 2.2: Utilize partnerships to develop capabilities and
research opportunities in air quality, meteorological modeling,
flatland hydrology, high explosives, and other fertile or developing
research areas.
Strategies:
• Identify expertise in Wind Science and Engineering (WISE), the
Texas Tech Center for Multidisciplinary Research in Transportation (TechMRT),
The Institute of Environmental and Human Health (TIEHH), and others.
• Establish communication networks.
• Identify sponsors and develop proposals incorporating synergistic
relationships.
Assessments:
• Number of synergistic relationships developed.
• Number of proposals submitted.
• Joint publications.
• Funding generated.
Objective 2.3: Network with graduates, associates, past sponsors,
and others in the offering of partnering opportunities.
Strategies:
• Organize and conduct mini-symposia for potential partners.
• Develop conferences and short courses to actively involve
graduates, associates, and past sponsors.
• Use a variety of communication vehicles.
• Utilize WRC Advisory Board to promote research.
Assessments:
• Research opportunities and proposals developed.
• Number of symposia, conferences and short courses developed.
• Number of participants attending.
Goal 3. Resources and Infrastructure: Provide support to the
education, research and service activities of the Department of
Civil Engineering, the College of Engineering and Texas Tech
University.
Critical Success Factors (measures of the degree of success over the
next 5 years):
• Operate and maintain research-related equipment and software in
the Environmental Science Laboratory (ESL) and the Department of
Civil Engineering.
• Full time laboratory assistant for the ESL.
• Streamlined and expanded WRC library operation for increased
efficiency and utility by students, faculty, researchers and others.
• Capability to provide for 6-8 seed projects.
• Funding to provide travel support at a level of $10-15,000 per
year.
• Capitalize on past and recent success in wastewater recycling
research to support the strategic hire of a new faculty member in
the physical/chemical treatment specialty area to complement current
faculty research expertise.
• Support new faculty hires in areas of air pollution/meteorological
modeling and surface water quality/hydrology.
Objectives:
Objective 3.1: Provide financial, state of the art technical, and
other forms of support to those units of the university involved or
seeking involvement with water resources or environmental research.
Strategies:
• Seek increased line item and/or excellence funds support.
• Seek funding for travel support.
• Develop mechanisms for increased laboratory equipment and
computer/software support.
Assessments:
• Level of line item and/or excellence funding.
• Funding for travel support.
• Laboratory capabilities added.
• Software and computer capabilities added.
• Number of faculty, students supported.
Objective 3.2: Provide expanded opportunities for researchers and
graduate students through provision of matching funds and seed money
grants to support research assistants and develop concepts for
future funding.
Strategies:
• Seek increased line item and/or excellence funds support.
• Develop mechanisms for identifying “hot” research areas and
becoming competitive for research funding.
• Communicate research needs to prospective researchers.
Assessments:
• Number of seed projects supported.
• Number of faculty researchers and students supported.
• Level of use of WRC-related facilities.
Objective 3.3: Support/assist the Department of Civil Engineering
and the College of Engineering in accomplishing strategic and
otherwise critical hires in the water resources/environmental areas.
Strategies:
• Identify expertise and capability needs.
• Identify individuals with needed expertise and capabilities.
• Assist in recruitment.
• Assist in startup package development.
• Mentor new junior faculty and integrate them into existing
research programs.
• Provide technical and other assistance to strategic hires to
insure their rapid success.
Assessments:
• New hires with needed expertise and capabilities.
• Level of assistance provided to junior faculty.
• Level of assistance provided to strategic hires.
Goal 4. Marketing and National Image: Enhance the state and
national image of the Water Resources Center.
Critical Success Factors (measures of the degree of success over the
next 5 years):
• Sponsorship and joint sponsorship of seminars and short courses.
• Host/co-host state/national professional society meetings and
conferences.
• WRC researchers supported in their efforts to become established,
active members of their professional organizations.
• WRC website expanded to incorporate WRC Newsletter and more
frequent updates of research and other activities for enhancement of
technology transfer, student recruitment and general awareness.
Objectives:
Objective 4.1: Aggressively promote WRC programs to enhance
visibility and credibility at state, national and international
levels.
Strategies:
• Emphasize publications in refereed journals, incorporating a
minimum requirement of at least one publication resulting from all
WRC-related research projects.
• Assist research faculty and graduate students in their efforts to
publish their research.
• Promote presentation of research at national/international
conferences.
Assessments:
• Number of publications.
• Participation at national/international conferences.
Objective 4.2: Utilize committee memberships, elected offices and
other opportunities offered by the Universities Council on Water
Resources, the American Water Resources Association, American
Society of Civil Engineers, and other professional societies and
organizations to demonstrate to our peers that the people and
programs at Texas Tech University and the WRC rank among the top in
the field.
Strategies:
• Facilitate WRC researchers in professional development.
• Actively seek opportunities for participation in professional
organizations.
• Communicate opportunities and promote participation.
Assessments:
• Professional committee participation.
• Professional society offices held.
• Participation on editorial boards, advisory committees and similar
professional groups.
Objective 4.3: Establish a more effective technology transfer
program.
Strategies:
• Update and expand WRC website.
• Utilize web publishing of WRC Newsletter.
Assessments:
• Website hits.
• Response from readers.
Goal 5. Engagement: Build community connections that enhance
the quality of life for students and the community.
Critical Success Factors (measures of the degree of success over the
next 5 years):
• Participation on advisory boards, and planning groups, including
the Brazos River Authority, the Llano Estacado Regional Water
Planning Group, the City of Lubbock, the Reese Restoration Advisory
Board, and others.
• Expanded programs in on-site wastewater treatment research at
Reese Technology Center.
• WRC website and other mechanisms utilize to provide materials and
resources for K-12 educational programs highlighting regional water
and environmental issues.
Objectives:
Objective 5.1: Provide leadership in addressing water resources and
environmental issues facing local, regional, and statewide advisory
groups and commissions.
Strategies:
• Identify current activities and capabilities that provide an
element of community service.
• Interact with local, regional, and state agency
water/environmental planning groups.
• Market and promote university and community service activities.
Assessments:
• Number of memberships on committees and advisory groups.
• Participation in specific projects.
Objective 5.2: Maintain and expand research activities at Reese
Technology Center.
Strategies:
• Identify research opportunities utilizing existing facilities or
space.
• Build on current/recent research.
Assessments:
• Number, dollar amount of projects.
• Facilities utilized.
• Space utilized.
Objective 5.3: Support outreach programs with water
resources/environmental engineering materials and presentations to
attract K-12 students, including minority students.
Strategies:
• Participate in local and regional educational programs and events.
• Develop educational materials and presentations.
• Develop a speaker’s bureau for school science-related programs.
Assessments:
• Participation in programs and events.
• Number of presentations made.
• Requests for programs and materials.
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