The University of Houston Research Council exists as one branch of the faculty governance structure. It exists to assist the President, Provost, and Vice Presidents in formulating recommendations and policies specifically affecting the research community on our campus. While formally advisory in nature, the Research Council provides a forum for internal discussion, initiates policies touching on research matters, gathers and disseminates information to the faculty, and provides a faculty voice to the University Administration on matters pertaining to research.

Formally, the Research Council is responsible for advising and making recommendations to the President and Provost, through the Vice President for Research. While recognizing that research represents only one component of an academic enterprise, the Research Council focuses it effort on matters pertaining to research development and related research activities at the university.