2003-04 research funding tops $20 million again

IN 2003-04, GRANTS AND OTHER EXTERNAL FUNDING FOR RESEARCH, instruction, public service and other scholarly activities awarded to JMU and its faculty topped the $21 million mark. The $21,228,445 total is a 4.55 percent increase above the previous fiscal year, and 240 faculty and staff members were awarded grants from federal, state, local and private agencies. 

More than half of this year's awards came from federal and state governments. The federal government provided 108 awards totaling $11.8 million, or 55.75 percent of all grants. The 36 state awards totaled more than $7 million. Another 21 grants totaling $220,905 came from city, county, university or other government entities. About $1.4 million came from private or nonprofit organizations and industry.

"Funding successes are a testament to faculty and staff members' efforts to augment resources and equipment and to provide mentorship and hands-on research opportunities for students," says Pat Buennemeyer, director of sponsored programs. "Another reason JMU funding applications are successful is that professors are asking for funds to not only augment resources and educate students, but to provide public services, outreach or education to the community outside the campus. That follow-through via outreach in services or education is a huge factor in obtaining external funding."

Recent awards include funds for 2004 summer Research Experience for Under-graduate programs in biology, chemistry, materials science and mathematics. Vida Huber, integrated science and technology associate dean, and colleagues received $570,859 from the Virginia Department of Health to provide administrative and planning services for the HIV Consortium for Northwest Region to improve the quality, availability and organization of health care and support services.