Arlington, Va.
The National Science Foundation told its board on Thursday that it was taking steps to fix management troubles but would not end its practice of relying heavily on university administrators to fill its leadership ranks.
Leaders of the independent federal agency reported to their board seven months after admitting a series of instances in which employees were making regular use of their computers for unauthorized activities, including viewing pornography.
The matter drew criticism from Sen. Charles E. Grassley, a Republican of Iowa, who questioned whether the cases were a sign of lax management at an agency entrusted with $6-billion a year in federal money to finance scientific research at American universities.
In her report to the board, Cora B. Marrett, the agency's acting deputy director, identified several problems that may have led to the employee misbehavior and outlined corrective action.
One significant problem may be the foundation's reliance on part-time managers, who often serve terms lasting one to three years, Ms. Marrett said. About 60 percent of the agency's 520 program officers, who supervise the process of awarding grants, serve in such temporary positions, and they usually come from the ranks of universities, NSF officials said.
Agency officials said they valued the fresh attitudes gained from such regular turnover, and do not intend to end the system. But, Ms. Marrett said, the NSF was beginning a new approach to training such managers to make clear they understand their staff-oversight responsibilities.
"This is an area where we know we have fallen short," said Ms. Marrett, who came to the NSF after serving as chief academic officer for the University of Wisconsin system.
Comments
1. 22290017 - August 06, 2009 at 08:58 pm
Over the decades I have had many contacts as a panel evaluator with program managers in the CISE directorate, some of whom were academic IPAs and some were more permanent staff. Without exception I have found them to be hard-working, diligent, and dedicated to fair evaluations of proposals. OTOH, I have had a few problems with the diligence and thoroughness of permanent people who are in support positions for these managers.
2. 11211250 - August 07, 2009 at 10:28 am
These academic IPAs are researchers not administrators. I thought they were there to support the scientific review of research projects not babysit civil service employees. Why doesn't the regular NSF management team oversee its employees? Of course it won't hurt them to learn a bit more about management; it could help them back at home. But why waste their brain power while they are at NSF?
3. 11178276 - August 18, 2009 at 11:00 am
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