Approximately 95 faculty and staff members were recognized at a reception on March 1 for securing more than $6.1 million in grants and contracts during the 2010-2011 fiscal year.
“For an institution of our size and focus, this is very good,” said Tim Atkinson, assistant provost and director of the Sponsored Programs Office. “The faculty have to plan ahead and work with their chairs and deans to get enough time to do special projects. Grants take a lot of time to write and administer and are usually hard to fit into a faculty member’s busy schedule, so we are doing well.”
UCA grant portfolio has projects focused on providing research opportunities for undergraduates, funds needed for specialized equipment, conservation, building renovation, innovative nutrition education programs, teacher training and other grants that fund basic science research to advance knowledge in math and science, said Atkinson.
Sponsored programs provides seed money or matching funds to help researchers and scholars generate valuable preliminary data that can sometimes make the difference between a funded grant application and a rejected application, he added.
UCA President Tom Courtway described those in attendance as “shining stars” of the state. He encouraged the faculty and staff to spread the word about their accomplishments.
“People need to know what you’re doing,” Courtway said. – Lisa Burnett