Research Computing Advisory Board Template

This template provides a practical, adaptable framework for defining the advisory board’s purpose, membership composition, leadership model, responsibilities, and reporting practices. It is designed to help institutions ensure sustainable oversight, cross-campus representation, and strategic alignment between research priorities, technology investments, and institutional goals.
The template is especially useful for campuses seeking to:

• Formalize or refresh research computing governance
• Improve coordination between faculty, IT, libraries, and leadership
• Support CI growth, funding strategies, and long-term sustainability
• Strengthen readiness for grants, partnerships, and infrastructure investments

How This Resource Can Be Used

• Launching a new research computing or CI advisory board
• Refreshing governance for expanding HPC/HTC/AI initiatives
• Supporting CI planning grants or infrastructure proposals
• Improving coordination between faculty, IT, libraries, and leadership
• Demonstrating governance maturity and sustainability

Defines the overall mission of the advisory board and its role within the institution.
Includes guidance to articulate:

• Institutional goals for research computing and CI
• How the board will support sustainability and long-term planning
• The board’s role in advancing HPC, HTC, AI, and data-enabled research

Outlines recommended board composition to ensure balanced representation and expertise.
Core Research Computing Representation

• Faculty from research computing–intensive departments (e.g., engineering, computing, sciences)
• Faculty from related departments that heavily rely on CI tools

Interdisciplinary & Non-Traditional Representation

• Faculty from departments with emerging or potential CI use (e.g., business, education, arts)
• Library representation to support data, scholarly communication, and research services

Continuity & Term Guidance

• Continuity clause to retain institutional knowledge year over year
• Flexible term-length options

Encourages inclusive governance beyond traditional users.
Includes guidance for adding:

• Research computing or IT staff (ex officio or voting)
• Graduate students, postdocs, or junior faculty to represent emerging researcher needs

Provides flexible leadership structures to match institutional culture.
Includes options for:

• Elected co-chairs
• Appointed standing chairs with rotating co-chairs
• Shared leadership across technical and academic domains

Clarifies expectations for both leadership and members.
Co-Chairs

• Meeting facilitation
• Liaison responsibilities with campus leadership and external partners

Board Members

• Input on CI policies, access, and allocation
• Review of usage metrics and system effectiveness
• Identification of funding, partnership, and growth opportunities
• Recommendations on training, outreach, and workforce development
• Departmental communication and feedback loops

Offers multiple meeting frequency options to fit institutional needs.
Includes:

• Quarterly and monthly meeting models
• Flexibility for ad hoc or special-topic meetings
• Guidance on minimum participation expectations

Supports transparency and accountability.
Includes multiple reporting options:

• Annual summary reports
• Ongoing meeting notes and action items
• Quarterly updates for leadership or the campus community