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UND Division of Research
Cyberinfrastructure (CI) Plan

Priority Action Area – A (Workforce Development and Support Staff)
Goal One: Offer UND students opportunities to be qualified participants in the nation’s CI workforce.

Action Plan:

1. Establish a cross-departmental Cyberinfrastructure undergraduate minor to encourage students from all academic disciplines to serve as CI practitioners.
   1. Computational Specialization
   2. Digital Arts Specialization
      1. CGI Special Effects and Animation
      2. Scientific Visualization
   3. Video Game Development Specialization
2. Establish a scientific computing graduate program that will supply grad student teaching assistants who can provide CI tutoring and serve as instructors for courses offered by the CI minor.
3. Offer introductory CI computer course for incoming freshman that instructs on the basics of using Internet technologies
4. Offer advanced 400/500 level CI course.
5. Incorporate the use of external HPC resources such as the TeraGrid in courses where appropriate.
6. Develop marketing plan that highlights UND CI research opportunities in order to recruit graduate students in all academic disciplines who wish to apply CI techniques and technologies in their plans of study and research agendas.
7. Seek funding to establish specific CI graduate assistantships that include:
   1. Tuition Waivers
   2. Stipends

Action Plan:

1. Encourage staff members to participate in CI academic programs
2. Establish research and staff positions to support CI minor and scientific computing graduate program.
3. Assure that CI position descriptions accurately reflect the skills and education required to ensure a higher market salary.
4. Seek funding for CI staff positions

Goal Three: Attract and retain faculty with a background in the use of CI techniques and technologies for research and education as appropriate.

Action Plan:

1. Encourage departments to assess their CI needs by identifying the role that CI plays in their research and education programs.
2. Include CI experience as a criterion in faculty recruitment, tenure, and promotion processes as appropriate.
3. Encourage faculty to participate in CI academic programs as appropriate.
4. Encourage faculty and staff to collaborate with off-campus institutions, labs, and virtual organizations.

Goal Four: Design a CI workforce development program for UND faculty and staff.

Action Plan:

1. Offer incentive programs to encourage faculty and staff to self-study in areas of CI. Such programs might include:
   1. Course buyouts
   2. Professional development grants
   3. Coverage of CI organization membership fees.
   4. Recognition Awards
2. Offer funding for faculty and staff to attend CI conferences and workshops.
3. Offer a short course on CI for any person with a relationship to UND – faculty, staff, student, or private sector partner.