SAES-422 Multistate Research Activity Accomplishments Report
Sections
Status: Approved
Basic Information
- Project No. and Title: NRSP1 : National Information Management and Support System (NIMSS)
- Period Covered: 10/01/2011 to 09/01/2012
- Date of Report: 02/24/2013
- Annual Meeting Dates: 12/12/2012 to 12/12/2012
Participants
The Committee met quarterly, and composed of: Administrative Advisors, representing each of the four SAES regions: William Brown (S), Steven Loring (W), Bill Ravlin (NC) and Adel Shirmohammadi (NE); ARD Director: Shirley Hymon-Parker; Cooperative Extension Director: L. Washington Lyons; NIMSS Manager: Dan Rossi; Regional System Administrators: Chris Hamilton (NC), Rubie Mize (NE), Donna Pearce (S) and Sarah Lupis (W); Director's administrative assistants who use NIMSS routinely: Tammy Heil and Shelley Whitworth; Impact Communications Specialist: Sara Delheimer, Mike Harrington; NIFA non-voting representatives - Bart Hewitt and Katelyn Sellers
Accomplishments
1. A Management Committee was organized to provide general oversight, policy development, proposal preparation and budget recommendation for NRSP1. The Committee meets quarterly, and composed of: - four Administrative Advisors, representing each of the four SAES regions; William Brown (S), Steven Loring (W), Bill Ravlin (NC) and Adel Shirmohammadi (NE) - an ARD Director; Shirley Hymon-Parker - a Cooperative Extension Director; L. Washington Lyons - the NIMSS Manager; Dan Rossi - the four System Administrators; Chris Hamilton (NC), Rubie Mize (NE), Donna Pearce (S) and Sarah Lupis (W) - two director's administrative assistants who use NIMSS routinely; Tammy Heil and Shelley Whitworth - and two communicators/writers to advise the impact reporting program. Sara Delheimer, Mike Harrington - NIFA non-voting representatives - Bart Hewitt and Katelyn Sellers
2. During the reporting period, and at any given time, there are about 300 active multistate research projects and activities recorded in NIMSS. Today, there are 304 multistate projects and activities. Of these, 135 are multistate projects, 7 NRSPs, and the rest are coordinating committees (Advisory, Development, CC's and ERA's).
3. The new functionalities introduced in NIMSS last year to improve the speed of data download and transition between forms using the Object-oriented Programming Style (OOPS) and enhanced using RIA technology (Rich Internet Technology) is still an on-going activity. The purpose of this upgrade is to enter data that is used in multiple displays only once.
4. Summary tables for multistate project participation were added to accommodate the reporting requirements of the Agric. Experiment Stations and the regions. To allow for more customized analysis of these data, a print and an Excel version are now available for the yearly summary of participation. The excel conversion is not quite fully operational. The programmer is working on it to make sure that the Excel table can be manipulated.
5. A new impact statement format was designed and approved and the process for impact statement review and approval was refined. Previously prepared impact statements for 25 Multistate projects that terminated in 2011were edited and translated into the new format. All 25 revised impact statements were in the process of being posted on regional websites as well as the AgisAmerica.org site. In addition, eight new impact statements were prepared for other Multistate projects that terminated in 2011. These will also be posted on the regional association websites as well as the AgisAmerica.org site. The impact writer also worked with the administrative advisors to distribute the final products to other outlets. Positive feedback was received from Administrative Advisors and participating scientists. They feel that the impact statements, especially in the new layout that includes photos, will be very helpful in communicating the impacts of their research to key stakeholders and other interested parties.
Outcomes
1. At its peak period, NIMSS gets 28,000 hits per day, and an average of 15,000 hits per day during normal operations. Data transferred varied from 2GB to 4GB per day, during slow to heavy period. February is the busiest month and August the slowest. The submission and review process for new multistate proposals had been significantly reduced such that renewal projects are ready for implementation before they expire, in most cases at least three months before the expiration date.
2. The system continue to facilitate the work of the Agric. Experiment Station Directors and Administrative Advisors in managing their multistate research portfolio. Meetings are authorized through NIMSS, annual reports and minutes submitted, and the system is also used by technical committee members to communicate with each other.
3. The system continues to provide the service of pre-populating the dashboard that USDA-NIFA program leaders use. In a way, this cooperation enhances the partnership of the Land-grant community with their federal partner.
4. For the Impacts Reporting portion of NRSP-1, the NIMSS programmer had started work on adding functions in NIMSS so that impact statements prepared by the writer can be uploaded and viewed in NIMSS. This new feature will showcase work being done and impacts of the multistate agricultural research projects/activities to society.