Research Policy Committee
The Research Policy Committee is a faculty advisory committee to the Provost on research, scholarship, and creative activities of the Murray State faculty. The committee submits recommendations to the Provost on various university policies to strengthen the research environment on campus. RPC membership includes one faculty member from each college/school selected by the Provost, one Sigma Xi faculty member, the Director of Sponsored Programs, and the Director of the Office for Research and Creative Activities.
page last updated 8/18/2026
Download Report on Faculty Research Conditions and Changes Since 2010 (PDF)
Emerging Scholar Award
Each year, the RPC selects two recipients of the Murray State Alumni Association Emerging Scholar Award. This award recognizes superior research, scholarly, or creative work conducted by Murray State University faculty members who are in the early phase of their careers and who show professional promise. Significant achievements associated with the nomineeʼs work should have been realized while the nominee has held a faculty position at the University. Two prizes will be awarded: one in the area of science, technology and mathematics, the second in the area of the arts, literature, humanities, and social sciences. Each Emerging Scholar receives a $500 cash award, and the researcher’s name is engraved on the Murray State Alumni Association Emerging Scholar Award plaque located in the Murray State Alumni Center.
Download/view detailed guidelines for the Murray State Alumni Association Emerging Scholar Award
ACCESS THE NOMINATION FORM FOR THE EMERGING SCHOLAR AWARD
Randal J. Keller Distinguished Researcher Award
In the early 2000s, Dr. Keller recognized a critical need to celebrate and elevate faculty scholarship. Understanding the challenges faculty faced—balancing full teaching loads with limited funding and conducting research often on modest resources—he envisioned the creation of a Distinguished Researcher Award. His goal was simple yet powerful: to ensure that the dedication, creativity, and scholarly contributions of Murray State faculty did not go unrecognized.
The Murray State University Alumni Association became the award’s annual sponsor, sustaining its impact for many years. Today, Dr. Keller has furthered that legacy through a generous gift to permanently endow and name the award, ensuring that faculty excellence in research will be recognized for generations to come.
Dr. Keller retired from Murray State University in 2023, concluding a distinguished 27-year career marked by service, vision, and an enduring commitment to the academic mission.
ACCESS THE NOMINATION FORM FOR THE DISTINGUISHED RESEARCHER AWARD
Presidential Research Award
Every other year, the Research Policy Committee (RPC) juries this highly competitive award. The committee may disqualify any or all proposals it deems not worthy of funding. Applicants must be full-time faculty, professional staff, or administrative faculty and must be engaged in research, scholarship, or creative activity that results in a significant contribution to their professional field. This award will be offered next in Spring 2028.
View the Guidelines and Application Form
ACCESS THE NOMINATION FORM FOR THE PRESIDENTIAL RESEARCHER AWARD