(Posted 8-16-00)
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
News Service Contact: Steve Gilliam, 336-334-5371
Dr. Edward Uprichard
Dr. Peter Alfonso |
NEW RECORD OF $33 MILLION SET FOR
GRANTS AND CONTRACTS FUNDING
GREENSBORO--External funding for research, public service and creative activity at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro has passed the $30 million mark, reaching a record high of $33,057,881 during the 1999-2000 fiscal year.
The good news was announced at UNCG's opening convocation. The total marked an increase of 38.8 percent over the $23,818,627 received during the previous 12 months, according to Chancellor Patricia A. Sullivan, who said it represents a major increase in successful funding proposals.
"This University has set another new milestone by passing the $30 million level in external funding from grants and contracts,” said Sullivan. “The figures for the year show both a sustained performance and an increase of $9.2 million over the previous year. This huge success is a source of pride for the University.
"Our faculty deserves most of the credit for this outstanding year in external funding. Once again, they have submitted innovative proposals and competed successfully against other faculty at many of best universities in the country. This funding makes possible major outreach programs by UNCG and strengthens the University overall as we seek to provide leadership for the Triad’s research economy.”
The $33 million in external grants included $24.7 million in federal funding, marking a 62 percent increase of $9.4 million over the $15.3 million received in that category during fiscal year 1999. Other grants came from private foundations, non-profit organizations, state and local government and business and industry.
Dr. A. Edward Uprichard, UNCG's provost, and Dr. Peter J. Alfonso, associate provost for research, also expressed pleasure with the final report.
Uprichard said, "I am impressed with the significant growth that we have experienced this year in our grants and contracts activity. This reflects the quality of our faculty and their ability to compete at a national level. I also believe the growth in external funding UNCG has experienced this year and last year are related to the changes we have made in our research infrastructure. I have hopes that we can exceed this level of external funding in 2000-2001.
"I am especially pleased with the progress that we have made in this
area over the last five years. During that period we have advanced from
$12,620,824 million to $33,057,881 million. That represents an increase
of approximately 162 percent."
Alfonso said that although last year’s 38.8 percent increase was a
significant achievement, the steady growth of research funding throughout
a period of five years is even more impressive. He cited two measures of
research productivity as particularly significant:
Faculty success rate for proposal submissions. The success rate for proposals submitted by UNCG faculty members continues to exceed 60 percent--a higher rate than most major research universities. “The fact that we are able to sustain such an extraordinary success rate is a direct reflection of the high quality of our faculty,” said Alfonso.
Increases in annual expenditures for research activity. Annual expenditures for research activity are increasing at steady levels, increasing at 19.4 percent and 27.1 percent over the past two years, respectively.
“Our continued success in extramural funding reflects University’s commitment in support of research,” he said. “I am particularly pleased that we are able to establish this year a number of new programs designed to enhance the support of our researchers and our research infrastructure. We will continue to invest research-generated revenue directly back to our research enterprise, and I am confident that scholarship and external funding for research will continue to increase in the future at levels we observe presently.”
Overall, UNCG received 242 individual awards during fiscal year 2000, compared to 205 a year earlier. The grant awards included the following: School of Education, $21.3 million; College of Arts and Sciences, $4.2 million; School of Human Environmental Sciences, $2.2 million; School of Health and Human Performance, $749,207; Bryan School of Business and Economics, $630,386; and School of Nursing, $518,927. Among UNCG's centers and institutes, the Center for the Study of Social Issues generated $2.9 million, and the Institute for Health, Science and Society generated $308,801.
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