Eastern will have a central compilation of its faculty’s academic publications soon.

The compilation, titled Report on Publications and other Scholarly Achievements,” is planned to be done by next year.

“We’ve never had one before,” said Bob Chesnut, director of grants and research.

Chesnut presented the report’s rough draft copy to the Faculty Senate on Tuesday and requested that the faculty review it. He hopes that by the end of the semester a final copy can be agreed upon.

“We’re starting a process to provide a university-wide report every year,” Chesnut said. “The report would consist of all contributions of the faculty.”

The report will be a listing of research or creative activities such as artwork, music compositions or poems that a faculty member has completed.

“I’m asking the faculty to take a look at the form and see if they can report what they are doing with that form,” he said. “I don’t want to leave anyone out.”

Chesnut is also requesting that faculty members also include video clips or music recitals in the report.

A musician’s recital takes as much preparation and work as it does to conduct research, he said.

“I could almost imagine a single yearly-report that faculty would file recounting their research and creative activities that then would become part of a central database that can be used for various purposes,” said John Kilgore, English professor and faculty senate member.

Chesnut initiated his efforts to compile a single report last spring.

He researched several other universities’ publications reports, and decided to model Eastern’s after The University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire’s report.

He then contacted Eau Claire’s Office of Research and Sponsored Programs and they gave him their report template to him free.

Christopher Lind, Eau Claire’s assistant vice chancellor for research, said their report benefits mostly their faculty members.

“Tenure and promotion are things that faculty are most interested in, and most departments have a faculty personnel committee for the review of promotion and one of the things considered might be scholarly output,” he said. “Since faculty contacts also call for them to do additional work besides teaching, this document is one in which we collect that information and it can be found at a later date.”

Several of Eastern’s departments keep track of their own publications for accreditation or grant purposes. This report would be different because it encompasses the entire university community’s work in one place.

“I do think it’s a good idea,” Kilgore said. “I think the challenge is to consolidate some of these efforts so one departments’s efforts aren’t repeating another’s.”

Chesnut said he isn’t sure who would be responsible for submitting the report. He plans to meet with the deans and department chairs to hear their input.

Public perception of Eastern is a concern the Faculty Senate addressed to Julie Nimmons, chair of the Board of Trustees, at Tuesday’s meeting. Chesnut said that this report could help improve the public’s perception of Eastern.

“The benefit will be in persuading the public that EIU really does quality research,” he said.

Kilgore, from a faculty perspective, agreed with Chesnut.

“It can help make clear to the public and the legislator how much work we do, in addition to teaching our courses,” he said.