Research Funding Rises By 18.3 Percent In Fiscal Year 2000

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - The University of Arkansas received almost $50 million in research funding for the fiscal year 2000, an 18.3 percent increase over fiscal year 1999 and another giant step towards the institutional goal of becoming a Carnegie Research I institution.

The U of A is the only comprehensive research university in the state of Arkansas and is currently classified by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching as a Research II university. There are currently 59 public and 29 private Research I institutions that receive $40 million or more in annual federal support. Federal funding at the U of A increased to $27,716,584 in 2000, up $2 million, from $25,077,911 in 1999.

Total research funding at the University reached $49,071,779 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2000. In fiscal year 1999, awards for research amounted to $41,464,591, according to data compiled by the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs.

"We believe that the University has great growth potential in research and these numbers give us encouragement for future efforts - efforts that are contributing markedly to Arkansas and the world," said Bob Smith, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs.

Research funding increased significantly at the state level, up more than $5 million from $6,422,530 in 1999 to $11,743,616 in 2000. Much of this state money was given in the form of matching funds for big federally-funded grants, a crucial funding tool that allows the U of A to compete for large research grants that might otherwise go to peer institutions in other states, said Collis Geren, associate vice chancellor for research and dean of the graduate school.

"We want to thank the General Assembly for its support of the University’s research mission," Geren said. "The state investment in the University has allowed our researchers to make significant strides in their programs, which in turn contribute to the betterment of the state, nation and world."

State money that matches government grants will remain a key factor in raising the level of federal funding and helping the University reach Carnegie Research I status, Geren said. The 1999-2000 Chronicle of Higher Education Almanac showed that, in fiscal year 1997, the top 100 institutions in terms of federal research expenditures range from Johns Hopkins University at $724 million to Dartmouth College at $43 million, a significant step up from the $27 million achieved this year at the U of A.

"These numbers have undoubtedly increased for other institutions in the past three years, so the University obviously has a long way to go before it becomes one of the top 100 federally funded institutions in the United States," Geren said.

University research funding from other sources remained about the same, at $9,611,579 for the year 2000 and $9,964,150 in 1999.

"These funds represent a host of dynamic research projects created by our talented faculty in hopes of making the world a better place," Geren said. "The increasing numbers of research dollars testify to the continuing success of their endeavors and the cutting-edge, nationally competitive quality of their research."

Research awards by college and school for the year 2000 include:

• Administration, $958,941;
• Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, $13,7555,186;
• School of Architecture, $1443;
• J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, $16,273,464;
• Sam M. Walton College of Business Administration, $218,529;
• Division of Student Services, $2,328,591;
• College of Education and Health Professions, $5,940,982;
• College of Engineering, $9,592,982;
• School of Law, $2,150.

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