University multi-user facility survey-2010

Abstract

Multi-user facilities serve as a resource for many universities. In 2010, a survey was conducted investigating possible changes and successful characteristics of multi-user facilities, as well as identifying problems in facilities. Over 300 surveys were e-mailed to persons identified from university websites as being involved with multi-user facilities. Complete responses were received from 36 facilities with an average of 20 years of operation. Facilities were associated with specific departments (22%), colleges (22%), and university research centers (8.3%) or were not affiliated with any department or college within the university (47%). The five most important factors to succeed as a multi-user facility were: 1) maintaining an experienced, professional staff in an open atmosphere; 2) university-level support providing partial funding; 3) broad client base; 4) instrument training programs; and 5) an effective leader and engaged strategic advisory group. The most significant problems were: 1) inadequate university financial support and commitment; 2) problems recovering full service costs from university subsidies and user fees; 3) availability of funds to repair and upgrade equipment; 4) inability to retain highly qualified staff; and 5) unqualified users dirtying/damaging equipment. Further information related to these issues and to fee structure was solicited. Overall, there appeared to be a decline in university support for facilities and more emphasis on securing income by serving clients outside of the institution and by obtaining grants from entities outside of the university.

Keywords: core laboratory; core personnel; institutional facilities; institutional support; instrumentation.

FIGURE 1

Types of facilities responding to survey. The facility identified with multiple centers had proteomics, X-ray, nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry (NMR), materials characterization, mass spectrometry, biochemistry, and inductively coupled plasma spectrometry (ICP) centers administrated as one center.

FIGURE 2

Number of full-time personnel associated with the operation of multi-user facilities.

FIGURE 3

Average age of equipment associated with multi-user facilities.

FIGURE 4

Difference between fees charged for in-house versus outside the institution users.