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Feedback from the TAC (1Mar93)
(from KPNO, NOAO Newsletter No. 33, 1 March 1993)

It has become increasingly clear that the KPNO user community would
like to obtain comments from the KPNO telescope Time Allocation
Committee for all proposals that are not granted telescope time. This
sentiment has arisen from many sources (see, for example, the KPNO
Users' Committee Report in this Newsletter). KPNO is very willing to
comply with this request; the difficulty has been in devising a method
to do so in the face of declining budgets and staffing levels. After
consultation with the TAC members, with the KPNO Users' Committee, and
with the KPNO scientific staff, we are pleased to announce that in the
future a summary of TAC comments will be given to all PIs who are not
granted telescope time. This service will begin after the TAC meeting
in the spring of 1993.

In view of the large oversubscription rates on the 4-m and 2.1-m
telescopes, it is important to note that some of the summaries may not
appear to be particularly substantive, i.e., many good proposals simply
cannot be scheduled.  However, in such cases the summary comments may
still be of use in preparing a proposal for resubmission that is more
competitive. This new procedure adds to the burden placed on TAC
members, and the detailed process may evolve with time as we gain more
experience, but it is our intent to provide such comments in the future
for all unsuccessful proposals.

David De Young

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