Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units (CRU)
The Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units program (CRU) was established in 1935 to enhance graduate education in fisheries and wildlife sciences and to facilitate research and technical assistance between natural resource agencies and universities on topics of mutual concern. Today, there are 43 Cooperative Research Units in 41 states, with a National Program Office located at the U.S. Geological Survey in Reston, Virginia. Each unit is a unique partnership among the U.S. Geological Survey, a host university, one or more state agencies, and the Wildlife Management Institute.
Cooperative Research Units have a three-fold mission: (1) Graduate Education, (2) Research, and (3) Technical Assistance. Each Unit consists of 2-5 federal scientists and 1-2 administrative specialists. Each Unit has a Leader who provides oversight to all Unit activities. Federal scientists hold faculty rank at their home institution, teach graduate level courses, offer workshops for graduate students and cooperators, and conduct research on a wide variety of natural resource topics. Research projects typically support graduate students and post-docs.
As a member of the CRU Coordinating Committee, WMI is eligible for special treatment of indirect expense. Indirect expense at a rate not to exceed 15% will be accepted for all research contracts funded by WMI.
The Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) Network
WMI is a member of the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units Network, a national consortium of federal agencies, tribes, academic institutions, state and local governments, nongovernmental conservation organizations, and other partners working together to support informed public trust resource stewardship. The CESU Network includes more than 450 nonfederal partners and 16 federal agencies across seventeen CESUs, including the North Atlantic Coast CESU and Alaskan CESU, representing biogeographic regions encompassing all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. insular areas.
As a member of the Alaskan and North Atlantic CESUs, WMI is eligible for special treatment of indirect expense afforded to CESU members. Indirect expense at a rate not to exceed 17.5% will be accepted for all research contracts funded by WMI.