Attachment C:
Strategic Plan

VISION

The Health and Environmental Risk Institute (HERI) will become a self-supporting Institute at the University of Cincinnati (UC). It will be recognized nationally for its scholarship and leadership in independent assessment and communication of human health issues due to environmental contaminants, such as heavy metals and radioactive materials in the environment.

MISSION STATEMENT

HERI will provide high quality risk assessment research and consulting services at the national level with a particular emphasis on issues affecting the citizens, industry and government of the State of Ohio. These risk assessment services will focus on chemical and physical contaminants and will include consulting services, risk assessment, health effects research and consultation, and the communication of these health effects to the general public. HERI applied research and service activities involve the interplay of technical and social science disciplines concerning the study of risk and include designing and implementing holistic approaches to assessing and communicating those risks. HERI will be nationally recognized for high quality risk communication research and service activities.

INTRODUCTION

HERI began in the early 1990s with research collaboration between researchers in two colleges: Medicine and Engineering. This collaboration expanded from two colleges to five colleges with the addition of members from Law, Arts and Sciences, and Design, Architecture, Art and Planning. HERI is currently comprised of over 20 core and affiliated faculty and staff members.

In June, 1994, the group began holding luncheon meetings on a monthly basis. At the end of 1994, the group sought formal recognition by the University of Cincinnati under the title the Health and Environmental Risk Institute.

A steering committee was formed during 1995 consisting of Professors Robert Bornschein (Environmental Health), Stephen Depoe (Communication), Roy Eckart (Mechanical, Industrial & Nuclear Engineering), and Eugene Rutz as Executive Secretary, to coordinate group initiatives. Members continued to meet regularly and to collaborate on sponsored research and publication activities. Promotional materials, including a design for a brochure, were developed to provide interested parties with information about HERI capabilities.

In 1996, HERI received University recognition in the form of start-up funds pledged for a three-year period from the Offices of Vice-President for Research and Advanced Studies (Dr. Robert Gesteland) and the Provost (Dr. Walter Jones); and from the Deans of the Colleges of Law, Medicine, and Engineering. During 1996, HERI also established a sales and service account within the University which allows for contract and fee-for- service work, such as technical reviews or educational workshops, to be conducted. HERI members have worked together on a myriad of sponsored research projects pertaining to issues such as environmental justice, risk assessment, and risk communication. Interdisciplinary research projects have been submitted to a variety of funders, including the National Science Foundation, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Energy, Fluor Daniel Fernald, the Ohio Board of Regents, and the University of Cincinnati's University Research Council and Faculty Development Council.

HERI has great potential for research and service in a wide area of contexts involving human health assessment and communication of health risk. The goal of this strategic plan is to focus these research and service efforts and to develop a path forward that will enable the HERI to reach the next level of success.

AREA 1. DEVELOPMENT OF HERI AND PARTICIPATING MEMBERS HERI will become self-supporting and provide opportunities for member development

GOAL 1: HERI will obtain official University recognition.

	Measure
	HERI will be recognized and promoted by UC as a Univeristy Institute by December 31, 1998
	Action Plan
	HERI will meet with Dr. Gesteland to remind him of the HERI request to be recognized as a UC Institute. HERI will follow up with a letter or memo requesting a letter from Dr. Gesteland stating that HERI can advertise as a UC Institute in promotional materials.

GOAL 2: HERI will obtain long-term support from the University, government, and
private industry.

	Measure
	HERI will devise a funding mechanism that results in a source of income linked to research contract awards or consulting services for State and local government and/or private industry.
	Action Plan
	A small working group of three members will be formed to review previous requests for funding. Alternate funding models will be devised to support a part-time Director by January 1, 1999 and full-time Director by January 1, 2000. Alternate models for University support will be proposed and developed. Funding models for private industry and State and local government will be developed. These models will be proposed to the appropriate groups in industry, State and local governments, and UC administration.

GOAL 3: HERI will develop a full-time Director position

	Measure
	HERI will have a part-time Director by January 1, 1999 and a full-time Director by January 1, 2000.
	Action Plan
	HERI will be reorganized such that the Steering Committee serves as an oversight board or Board of Trustees for HERI. A position called "Director-HERI" will be created. A position description for Director-HERI will be prepared. A current HERI member or "early retired" faculty or staff member will be identified, who would be willing to serve as part-time HERI Director. As funding develops, a full-time Director will be hired. This could be an outside person or a current faculty or staff member who would serve as director for reduced faculty load plus stipend.

GOAL 4:HERI will provide professional benefits for its members.

	Measure
	HERI will enrich the professional careers of its members.
	Action Plan
	HERI will provide partial-to-full support to members for travel to conferences and workshops. HERI will sponsor two seminars per year with nationally recognized speakers. HERI will assist members in identifying research opportunities. HERI will promote undergraduate and graduate student involvement. HERI will develop an organized networking process. HERI members will develop and explore each other's expertise. HERI senior faculty will mentor junior faculty through reviews, preparation of example proposals, and advice on research. HERI will develop a system of rewards for members, such as travel funds, publication fees, and graduate student support. HERI will hold workshops for members.

AREA 2. APPLIED RESEARCH AND PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT HERI will identify customer needs and Institute capabilities to determine appropriate applied research areas and product development

GOAL 5:HERI will determine principal areas of research strength and interest.

	Measure
	By September 1, 1998, HERI will define the major areas of applied research.
	Action Plan
	All HERI members will state two or three areas of applied research interest. All HERI members will estimate their availability for HERI- related work for the four quarters of the upcoming fiscal year. A small working group will use this information to clearly state the major areas of research interest. The working group will also develop a database that lists specific interests of each HERI member along with availability for each quarter of the fiscal year.

GOAL 6:HERI will identify customer needs in applied research areas.

	Measure
	By October 15, 1998, HERI will identify areas of applied research that are consistent with customer needs and Institute capabilities determined in Goal 5.
	Action Plan
	A working group will develop a questionnaire that can be used to determine prospective customer needs in the area of human health risk assessment. The results of the questionnaire will be used to identify industry and government customers. The questionnaire will also be used to determine perceived needs and problems for these customers.

GOAL 7:HERI will prepare a list of products and services within Institute capabilities.

	Measure
	By November 30, 1998, HERI will determine applied research areas, products, and services based on the results of Goals 5 and 6.
	Action Plan
	HERI will use the results of Goals 5 and 6 to identify specific target customers for applied research projects. HERI will use the results of Goal 5 to identify products such as workshops, seminars or technical presentations that could produce new revenue streams for HERI. HERI will consider both local and distance-learning opportunities. HERI will use the results of Goal 4 and the personal interests of HERI members to determine service activities.

GOAL 8:HERI will develop a market for applied research, products, and services.

	Measure
	By December 31, 1998, HERI will prepare applied research proposals and service- oriented proposals for selected customers.
	Action Plan
	HERI will develop new brochures and informational materials depicting the identified research areas, products, and services. HERI members will volunteer to contact prospective customers for these research areas, products and services. HERI members will make every effort to develop good relationships with these prospective customers. HERI will develop proposals for these selected customers for applied research or services based on the real needs that have been identified by HERI members.

AREA 3. SERVICE TO THE STATE AND COMMUNITY HERI will develop service activities for non-governmental organizations (NGOs), as well as local and State governmental agencies.

GOAL 9:HERI will develop collaborative projects with other Ohio universities in environmental and human health issues.

	Measure
	By September 30, 1998, HERI will determine if collaboration with the Ohio State University (OSU) and Miami University (MU) is a viable option and whether or not collaborative working groups should be established.
	Action Plan
	A HERI member(s) will be assigned to contact OSU to determine OSU interest in collaboration. A HERI member(s) will be assigned to contact the MU Institute of Environmental Sciences (IES) to determine IES interest in collaboration. Initial meetings will be held to discuss collaborative efforts. HERI member(s) will develop a plan for the path forward.

GOAL 10:HERI will provide workshops and seminars on environmental health issues for local business and government, and become recognized in the local area for expertise in these areas.

	Measure
	An evaluation will be held following each workshop and/or seminar hosted by HERI.
	Action Plan
	Articles for the UC Public Information Office that are suitable for local news press releases will be prepared. A workshop on radon will be held for the Cincinnati Health Department and other local city and county departments of health by Spring of 1999. One workshop will be planned and conducted semi-annually on a topic of local interest. Workshops on environmental health issues will be planned and conducted with Cincinnati area school teachers.