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Research Universities Council

The Research Universities Council (RUC) is a standing council appointed by the NACUBO President in consultation with the regional associations. The Council is established to ensure that issues of specific concern to research-extensive universities are represented and addressed in the development of the association’s strategic goals and plans and in the creation of programs, products, and services for its members. The Research Universities Council serves as an advisory body to the President and staff by providing suggestions, feedback, and support for the association’s goals and activities as they pertain to the constituency.

Top Needs by Long-Range Strategic Plan Goal as of September 2012

Goal 1: Equip business officers with the knowledge and resources needed to succeed.

• Provide training in areas for which business officers are responsible, but are not experts, to allow business officers to better manage their wide-ranging portfolios
• Provide knowledge and resources to create a culture of compliance on research university campuses
• Provide knowledge and resources on strategic cost reduction

Goal 2: Present the case for the value of higher education and advocate for policies that support colleges and universities.

• Explain the complex, wide-ranging role and portfolio of today's research university CBO
• Provide one-pagers widely distributed that are focused on issues and trends
• Advocate that higher education is a public good and a worthy investment

Goal 3: Identify new challenges facing higher ed and expand offerings to address future issues.

• Online and blended learning - what is the future?
• Benefits costs - what are best practices? 
• Risks around all funding sources - what can we expect from the federal government? From state governments? From philanthropic sources?

Top Issues for 2020 and Beyond

• Restructuring of higher education because of affordability and price considerations, fewer high school graduates, competition for international students, student debt, and increasing government regulation
• Changing the research university business model
• New delivery models will mean a repurposing of the physical plant and issues with space utilization
• Ability to adapt quickly will in part be based on leadership preparation and turnover and changing governance

Council Members 2012-13

Cathy Wood (chair)
Vice President for Finance and Treasurer
The Catholic University of America

Mike Allred
Associate Vice Chancellor, Finance and Controller
University of California, Davis

Nim Chinniah
Vice President for Administration and Chief Financial Officer
University of Chicago

Ken Cody
Vice Chancellor and Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer
University System of New Hampshire

Dean Currie
Vice President, Business and Finance
California Institute of Technology

Theresa Gordzica
Chief Business and Financial Planning Officer
University of Kansas

Elizabeth Huidekoper
Executive Vice President, Finance and Administration
Brown University

Calvin Jamison
Senior Vice President for Business Affairs
University of Texas at Dallas

Rowan Miranda
Associate Vice President, Finance
University of Michigan

Larry Owsley
Vice President for Business Affairs
University of Louisville

Marcie Smith
Associate Vice President for Business and Finance
Auburn University

Craig Woody
Vice Chancellor, Business and Financial Affairs
University of Denver

Contact

Randy Roberson
Director, Constituent Programs
202.861.2584
E-mail