The University of Wisconsin Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research announced April 21 that it is planning to change its organizational structure, according to UW News.

“The efforts include a proposed reorganization intended to better support the research and scholarly mission of UW–Madison and grow the research enterprise and creative expression across arts and humanities, biological sciences, physical sciences and social sciences,” according to UW News.

UW is ranked in the top five universities in research expenditures, and OVCR oversees its $1.93 billion expenditures, according to UW News.

Part of the reorganization plan includes creating a new team of full-time associate vice chancellors that strategically focus on different portions of the OVCR portfolio. The goal of this will be to ease organization and provide consistent oversight, according to UW News.

The OCVR will also create a new research development office focused on providing more resources and support for research portfolio development, according to UW News.

According to vice chancellor for research Dorota Grejner-Brzenziska in an email statement, this decision to restructure has come with the goal to remain competitive and grow UW’s research enterprise.

“The reason for the restructuring of the OVCR is in part in response to the changing research landscape locally and nationally,” Brzezinska wrote in an email statement.

Brzenzinska said in the statement that this decision follows months of learning and collaboration. Over the past year, the OVCR has worked with a consulting firm with experience in higher education research to facilitate these changes, according to Brzenzinska’s statement.

These plans will spearhead UW’s growth as a leading research institution in a changing research environment, according to UW News.

This announcement is the first of several to be released in the coming months as planning progresses, according to director of OVCR Strategic Communications Natasha Kassulke in an email statement.