Dean's Welcome

Historically academic research has been divided into basic or curiosity driven research and applied or mission-oriented research.  Generally the basic researcher strives to advance the frontiers of human knowledge with a view to developing a world picture in which all elements of human knowledge cohere. Generally the applied researcher strives for practical, usually rapid, benefits and proceeds, where possible, by using existing knowledge rather than by creating new knowledge. 

These two approaches are almost always inextricably intertwined, with the pure researcher finding interesting new problems in the applied arena and the applied researcher advancing basic knowledge in pursuit of practical benefits.  Our offerings at the masters’ level in Tulsa are largely designed to prepare students in applied study rather than in basic study.  As a consequence our faculty will necessarily be closely attuned to the needs of the applied research.  However, in developing research programs we anticipate that our faculty will continue to focus upon basic research as has long been the role of university faculty.  Thus we have created a basic research agenda for Tulsa that is informed by local, state and national needs.  Our strategic goal is to nurture research specializations in Tulsa in areas where solving fundamental scholarly problems will also advance progress in solving debilitating social or economic problems.

We will employ several strategies to achieve this goal.  In some cases we will realize this model through centers.  Our Interoperability Lab, designed to address the specific challenges of posed by interoperability at the boundaries of various network layers, is one such example.  In other cases individual researchers will coalesce into teams to work on specific problems.  A newly emerging team in Social Work, for example, is considering the problem of substance abuse and female incarceration in the state.  These teams may either dissolve when the specific research project terminates or evolve into new centers, depending on the sustainability of the scholarship, funding opportunities, and the relationship to institutional mission and strategic goals.  While individual researchers will continue to play a significant role in our research strategies, we expect that interdisciplinary research teams will be the primary means by which we achieve our strategic goals.