Faculty Impact Statements
Faculty accomplishments that help solve problems and create opportunity are reported in the impact statements.Some of these success stories represent many years of work. Some are about programs just underway that hold the promise of future benefits. They include innovations in teaching as well as research and extension impacts.
The simple format of stating an issue, the action taken to address the issue, and the impact or benefits of the work provides easy-to-read success stories. This format is being used by land-grant universities throughout the United States.
Impact statements provide a database at the state, regional and national levels for efforts to encourage public support for land-grant university research and education in the agricultural, food and life sciences. The underlying message is one that we cannot repeat too often -- our accomplishments provide significant benefits to society.
*Issues of Impact statements may be downloaded in Adobe Acrobat PDF format. To download Adobe Acrobat Reader select the "Get Acrobat Reader" icon..
Impact Statement Guidelines
Use the format below to write impact statements about research, teaching and extension accomplishments. Include success stories from completed projects and current projects with significant results to date.
Outline
Use as examples the Faculty Impact Statements 2006. Statements must include the following elements.
E-mail to address designated by your unit head for submission as a group to AGCS at agcomm@uark.edu
Archived issues
Faculty accomplishments are reported in this collection of impact statements submitted by faculty members
Write a brief statement about the problem or opportunity your work addresses. Who is affected? What are economic, social, educational, quality-of-life or environmental concerns? How important is the problem?
Action: "What have we done?"
How did you address the issue? Some methodology is okay, but keep it short and non-technical. Include time frame. Emphasize team efforts.
Impact: "What is the payoff?"
Who was helped (or will be helped) by your accomplishments, and how do they benefit? Impact is not just the development of new information or technology but the actual benefit realized from use of that technology or information. What is unique about this work? Include economic benefits or potential benefits. Measured impact is best, but often not available. If no economic analysis is available, use a layman's analysis of benefits such as the value of potential crop yield increase from an improved practice compared to the cost. For results that are difficult to quantify, use expected outcomes and benefits. Be sure to include accomplishments with no obvious economic benefit. Describe environmental, social, health, educational, quality-of-life or other benefits. Include anecdote or quote that illustrates impact, if appropriate.
Contacts: Name of principal investigators or program leaders, title, department, e-mail address, phone.
Cooperating Scientists or Institutions. Include extension component. Note if a regional or national collaborative project.
Funding Sources. ---- This is IMPORTANT. ---- Please list funding sources, especially from government agencies. List in order of amount, but do not include amounts.