Duration: 10/01/1999 to 09/30/2029

Administrative Advisor(s):

NIFA Reps:

Non-Technical Summary

Statement of Issues and Justification

Coordination of activities among participating states and between multi-state research and integrated research and extension projects requires certain administrative services and support. For example, interstate travel of State Agricultural Experiment Station scientists and administrative advisers is essential for them to attend ad hoc technical committee meetings, coordinating committee meetings, conferences, and work groups. These activities and the associated expenses must be accounted for through some reporting mechanism. This project will facilitate multi-state research, and integrated research and extension activities, and permit the accounting of the related expenditures. This project will permit better administration of the Multi-State Research Fund and help to facilitate collaboration and cooperative activities on selected priority topics identified through a regional framework of planned activities.

Related, Current and Previous Work

Objectives

1. To facilitate the planning and coordination of Multi-state Research, Multi-state Coordinating Committees, and Multi-state integrated research and extension activities.
   
2. To simplify accounting and disbursement of travel funds at each participating State Agricultural Experiment Station (SAES) for Multi-state planning and coordination.
   
3. An allotment of the MRF will be made at each participating station using appropriate NIFA forms to pay the necessary expenses of the directors serving as administrative advisers, members of technical committees, participating scientists, and other persons authorized by the designated administrative advisers at their Stations desiring to participate in meetings, including working groups and conferences. These meetings will be for the purpose of conferring on, coordinating and furthering research on specific problems of concern to two or more States. Administrative Advisers and Station Directors shall be guided by the policies at their own stations regarding travel and other expenses to be authorized. As a policy, the Chairperson of the Northeastern Regional Association of State Agricultural Experiment Station Directors (NERA) will serve as Administrative Adviser and chair of this project. He/she may authorize special meetings as required. A report on the purpose and accomplishment of such meetings shall be included in the annual progress report from the Coordination Project. The Project's Chairperson, with the assistance of the Association's Executive Director, shall be responsible for assembling this report.
   

Methods

An allotment of the RRF will be made at each participating station using appropriate CRIS forms to pay the necessary expenses of the directors serving as administrative advisers, members of technical committees, participating scientists, and other persons authorized by the designated administrative advisers at their Stations desiring to participate in meetings, including working groups and conferences. These meetings will be for the purpose of conferring on, coordinating and furthering research on specific problems of concern to two or more States. Administrative Advisers and Station Directors shall be guided by the policies at their own stations regarding travel and other expenses to be authorized. As a policy, the Chairperson of the Northeastern Regional Association of State Agricultural Experiment Station Directors (NERA) will serve as Administrative Adviser and chair of this project. He/she may authorize special meetings as required. A report on the purpose and accomplishment of such meetings shall be included in the annual progress report from the Coordination Project. The Project's Chairperson, with the assistance of the Association's Executive Director, shall be responsible for assembling this report.

Measurement of Progress and Results

Outputs

• Cooperative research studies and integrated research and extension activities targeted to specific agricultural problems of concern to two or more states facilitated.
• Progress of activities monitored and reported annually along with an accounting of related expenditures.

Outcomes or Projected Impacts

• Improved efficiency in the planning and coordinated use of Multi-state Research Funds.
• Better collaboration among states and our partners.

Milestones

(1999): Consensus agreement on regional framework completed. Individual State Plans of Work completed. Expenditures for 1998 for individual stations reported via AD-419.

(2000): Collectively, the activities of the regions multi-state portfolio evaluated and reported for 1999 via AD-421. Expenditures for 1999 for individual stations reported via AD-419.

(2001): Collectively, the activities of the regions multi-state portfolio evaluated and reported for 2000 via AD-421. Expenditures for 2000 for individual stations reported via AD-419.

(2002): Collectively, the activities of the regions multi-state portfolio evaluated and reported for 2001 via AD-421. Expenditures for 2001 for individual stations reported via AD-419

(2003): Collectively, the activities of the regions multi-state portfolio evaluated and reported for 2002 vis AD-421. Expenditures for 2002 for individual stations reported via AD-419

Projected Participation

View Appendix E: Participation

Outreach Plan

Organization/Governance

standard

Literature Cited

Attachments

Land Grant Participating States/Institutions

AR, CT, DC, DE, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT, WV

Non Land Grant Participating States/Institutions