Goal: Advance research and creative activity in emerging areas and expand knowledge transfer and translation.
Rationale: Develop solutions to the most critical challenges of our time by building on foundational fields of research and creative activity; increasing interdisciplinary work to advance exploration into emerging areas and new frontiers; and expanding the application of knowledge transfer and translation of knowledge.
Objectives and Strategies
1. Grow the size of the university's creative arts and research enterprise to align with aspirational peers
| Strategies | |
|---|---|
| Strategy 1 | Increase support and diversify research, creative activities, and translational work |
| Strategy 2 | Optimize centers, institutes, and other large-scale interdisciplinary sponsored research programs |
Metrics
1442 / 77%
External proposals submitted and success rate
(FY 2024)
9,830
Number of journal articles published
During the Academic Years 2021-2024 (AY 2025)
287,376
Number of citations
During the Academic Years 2020-2024 (AY 2025)
534
Number of books published
During the Academic Years 2015-2024 (AY 2025)
502
Number of book chapters published
During the Academic Years 2021-2024 (AY 2025)
1,426
Number of conference proceedings
During the Academic Years 2021-2024 (AY 2025)
1110 / $253,670,110
Total number and amount of grants awarded
(FY 2024)
$281,730,000
Total size of the campus's sponsored research portfolio
(FY 2024)
2. Expand and support an agile workforce and infrastructure to grow research and creative activities
| Strategies | |
|---|---|
| Strategy 1 | Bolster use of on- and off-campus, systemwide facilities and external services dedicated to research and creative activities |
| Strategy 2 | Enhance compliance training and professional development to better support research and creative activities |
Metrics
234
Number of unique UMass Amherst active groups of the Unity Research Computing Platform
Active UMass Groups (FY 2026)
637 / 252
Number of individuals completing research security and export control training
(AY 2024-25)
1509
Number of people completing training for responsible conduct of research
(AY 2024-25)
507/139
Utilization of Centralized Core facilities by internal and external users
(FY 2025)
3. Foster a campus culture that recognizes and engages faculty, staff, and students to advance research and creative activities
| Strategies | |
|---|---|
| Strategy 1 | Bolster mentorship and reward and recognize accomplishments in research and creative activities |
| Strategy 2 | Expand opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students to participate in the research/creative activity enterprise |
Metrics
3.0
Faculty perception of their ability to balance the research, teaching, and service activities expected of them
(2024 average, Scale: 1=Strongly Disagree, 2=Somewhat Disagree, 3=Neutral, 4=Somewhat Agree, 5=Strongly Agree)
In Process
Number of faculty receiving prestigious and highly prestigious awards
25% / 32%
Percent of graduating seniors reporting participation in research projects outside of and within course requirements
(2025)
4. Expand the transfer and translation of knowledge, expertise, skills, and artistic expression across the Commonwealth and beyond
| Strategies | |
|---|---|
| Strategy 1 | Improve state, national and international reputation by making the university’s research and creative activity achievements more visible |
| Strategy 2 | Foster societal impact through translational research and creative activity |
| Strategy 3 | Increase community-engaged research and creative activities |
Metrics
43 / $19,969,121
Number of awards and funding awarded for grants involving community engaged research
(FY 2024)
52 / 23 / 14 / 9 / 1
Number of invention disclosures, patent applications filed, new patents issued, licenses and option agreements executed, new start-up companies created by UMass faculty
(FY 2024)
View all strategic plan goals and objectives
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