Space

Research Space Allocation Guidelines and Process 

Research space at the University of Michigan belongs to the institution. The Provost is ultimately responsible for the allocation of space to the individual schools/colleges/units, and the Dean of the School of Kinesiology (SoK) has the final authority on the use of the SoK’s designated space. The procedures for the use of the SoK’s research space align with the University of Michigan Research Space Guidelines (provost.umich.edu/space/other/ResearchSpaceGuidelines.pdf).

Most of the research space is expected to be shared by multiple SoK faculty members. However, there is a mechanism to request the temporary allocation of a subset of the research space for use by individual faculty members. Allocations will be prioritized on a case-by-case basis with consideration of all the following:

• Space availability;

• Specialized equipment and/or types of research activities that require dedicated space;

• External funding support (including Direct and Indirect Costs) that requires dedicated research space;

• Internal funding support that requires dedicated research space;

• The extent of effort by funded personnel (staff and students) that requires dedicated research space;

• The quality and impact of the research being conducted;

• Safety-related issues;

• Other relevant factors.

Current research spaces within the SoK Building include:

First Floor: 

• Biomechanics Research Suite

• Clinical Research Suite and Exercise Training Center

• 1000 Research Suite

Third Floor: 

• Sport Management (SM) Research Centers (housed within the SM Suite)

Fourth Floor: 

• Neuro Research Suite

• Wet Lab Research Suite

• Shared Activity Space (Room 4600)

• Vivarium (this space is managed by the Unit for Laboratory Animal Medicine, ULAM).

Each research space has a Faculty User Group that is comprised of the faculty members who are engaged in research within the specific research space. Faculty may have membership in multiple Faculty User Groups. On an annual basis, each Faculty User Group will elect a designated representative for the purpose of: 

• organizing and leading regular user group meetings

• communicating with relevant individuals and groups (including the Associate Dean for Research, Facilities Manager, Research & Instructional Lab Coordinator, and the SoK Space Advisory Committee) on topics related to the research space on behalf of the User Group. 

The representative is elected on an annual basis, but is eligible for re-election. The Research & Instructional Lab Coordinator should be informed in advance and given the opportunity to attend User Group meetings.

Each Faculty User Group has the responsibility to devise a plan to optimize the space use to meet the research needs of all of the group’s members. The Faculty User Group will make recommendations about the use of the research space, including the procedures for reserving the use of shared space and shared equipment, the location of shared research equipment in shared space, preparing requests for space renovations, etc. The group will also respond to individual faculty requests for temporary space allocations. The User Group recommendations will be provided to the ADR for approval. The faculty group is also responsible for recommending access to the different spaces within the research area. The user group representative will need to provide the Facilities Manager with the recommended approval for access. If faculty members are not in agreement with the group’s plan, they may contact the ADR, who will work with the group with the goal of finding a solution that satisfies all members of the user group. If this mediation is unsuccessful, the faculty member(s) may bring the issue to the SoK Space Advisory Subcommittee on Research (comprised of the Associate Deans, the Facilities Manager, the Research & Instructional Lab Coordinator, the Executive Director of Finance, Planning & Operations, and the Research Process Manager). The subcommittee will meet with the faculty member(s) requesting the meeting and with the User Group’s designated representative; each party will provide a concise written description of their respective proposed plan for space use. Other members of the User Group may also be consulted if needed. With input from the entire subcommittee, the Associate Deans will prepare a written recommendation. This document will be submitted to the Dean, who will have the final authority on resolving the issue.

When an academic program proposes that a search be opened for a new faculty member who will need access to SoK research space, the relevant Faculty User Group(s) will provide the Dean with a written assessment of the potential impact on the research space. This assessment should include the capacity of the shared space to accommodate a new faculty researcher; if space limitations are likely to impact the search and how; the implications on the existing users; whether alternative arrangements may exist, whether renovations would be necessary; etc.