Great Plains                                    
    Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit

About Us |Partners| Project Info | Expert Database | Agency Needs | Documents | News & Events

Great Plains CESU New Partner Induction Policy

The addition of new Federal Agency or Partner Institution members must be approved by all GP-CESU Executive Committee members.  Consistent with Article III.C. of the Cooperative Agreement, new members will be added through an amendment to the agreement.  And, “Amendments shall be in writing, signed and agreed to by all signatories to this agreement.”

Prospective member organizations, whether solicited or unsolicited, are required to provide the appropriate application materials described below.  Please submit application materials electronically, with a hard copy to follow if desired.  All materials should be addressed to Dr. Kyle Hoagland, c/o Christine Lockert, GP-CESU, University of Nebraska, 3310 Holdrege St., 514 Hardin Hall, Lincoln, NE 68583-0985

APPLICATION MATERIALS:  Please Note that all application materials must be sent electronically, with a hard copy to follow if desired.

Federal Agency:  A federal agency seeking membership as a GP-CESU partner must be a current member of the CESU Council.  In addition they must submit a letter of interest to the Host University that includes the following information:   

1.  Confirmation that the applicant has read the GP-CESU Cooperative and Joint Venture Agreement, and agrees to abide by all the responsibilities and expectations of federal agency members.

2.  Payment of the one-time assessment of $10,000 to the Host University. 

Academic Partner Institution:   An organization seeking membership as a Partner Institution must submit a letter of interest to the Host University that includes the following information:

1)                   Provide confirmation that the applicant has reviewed the general CESU descriptive materials and GP-CESU Cooperative and Joint Venture Agreement, and that they agree to abide by all of the responsibilities and expectations of partner institutions.

2)                  Provide the names of the administrative and technical representatives for the applicant, along with their title, address, phone number, fax, and email address.

3)                  Provide a list of programs relevant to federal land management, environmental and research agencies, including the degrees offered and number of graduate students in each program,

4)                  List and briefly describe faculty expertise in disciplines and interdisciplinary work that is relevant to federal land management, environmental and research agencies (do not submit vitae).  This information will be incorporated into the GP-CESU database.

5)                   Provide a list and brief description of relevant facilities and equipment.

6)                   Provide a list and brief description of relevant experience in research, technical assistance and education linked to CESU Network Objectives (such as previous grants, special projects awards and so forth),

7)                  Define and describe current formal and informal relationships with federal land management, environmental and research agencies.

8)                  Provide a description of the actual, assessed overhead rate (not to exceed 17.5%) to be charged and cost items to which the rate is applicable for activities conducted through the CESU, including research, technical assistance and educational services.

Non- academic Partner Institution:

A non-academic Partner Institution applicant should submit, in addition to the letter of interest, the following:

1)      Identify a technical representative.  Their title, address, phone number, fax and email address must be included.

2)      Provide a general description of the organization.

3)      Provide a brief description of research, technical assistance and educational services to be offered to federal land management, environmental and research agencies.

4)      Provide a list of scientists and their expertise that is available through the organization.  This information will be incorporated into the GP-CESU database upon acceptance.

5)      Define other information relevant to the CESU Network objectives.
 

ADMISSION DECISIONS

The materials described above will be collected by the Host University and distributed to all Executive Committee members for consideration.  The vote on acceptance can be conducted at an Executive Committee meeting or by surface or email.  Nominees are elected to membership only by unanimous vote of the Executive Committee. 

Four criteria to consider when reviewing a prospective applicant:

1)      What expertise does this applicant provide?

2)      What is their collaboration history with federal partner agencies?

3)      What are the number and affiliations of the faculty that are likely to be involved in this partnership?

4)      What is the applicant’s geographic location with respect to the GP-CESU boundaries?
 

AMENDMENT PROCEDURES

1)   Once application materials have been received, the Host University will distribute the application to the GP-CESU Executive Committee members.  Members are asked to review the application materials.

2)   The Executive Committee will vote to either accept or reject the applicant. Induction will occur only if a unanimous vote is received from the committee members.  Upon receiving the proposal application, the committee member has 30 days to submit their vote.  If a response is not received by the Host, that vote is not required to move forward with the proposal process.  

3)    Upon approval, the Host University will contact the National CESU Council staff in Washington, D.C indicating that a new member has been accepted to the GP-CESU.  National CESU staff will prepare a formal amendment adding the candidate partner to the master agreement.  This amendment will be sent to the Host University. 

4)    The Host University will distribute the amendment and collect signatures by all the non-federal partners and candidate partner.  Separate signature pages will be provided to facilitate this step.  At the same time, the National CESU staff will circulate the amendment for federal agency signatures within the GP-CESU.  According to Article III, C1 in the agreement, each current partner and Federal agency will have 45 days to either sign the amendment or object in writing to the Host University.  If a Partner Institution or Federal Agency has not responded within this timeframe, its signature will not be required to make the amendment effective.   Once all signatures are obtained, the amendment is in effect and the new partner can begin to implement appropriate activities under the GP-CESU Cooperative Agreement.

5)    The Host University will issue a formal letter of acceptance welcoming the new partner, and distribute the amended agreement to all GP-CESU member organizations.

6)    The Host University will post a copy of the amendment on the GP-CESU web site.

 
TERMS:

Executive Committee:  consists of at least one representative from each current partner. The purpose of the Executive Committee is to guide the work of the GP-CESU and provide decision-making.

Technical Representative:  this individual will serve on the Executive Committee and serve as the main point of contact for the partner. The TR is expected to attend the GP-CESU meetings, be informed of GP-CESU goals and procedures, pass on information to relevant faculty when it is supplied to them by the GP-CESU, vote on prospective partners to the GP-CESU, help market the GP-CESU, respond in a timely manner to GP-CESU correspondence. 

 Administrative Representative:  individual who will receive amendments for signature, receive administrative news regarding the CESUs, often is the person who processes paperwork for any CESU projects through their respective institution.  Does not have to have signature authority, but must be able to obtain the appropriate signature when necessary.