FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - The University of Arkansas received almost $60 million in research funding for the fiscal year 2001- a 21 percent increase over last year, a 43 percent increase over two years and a large step towards reaching the University’s goal of $100 million dollars in research funding by 2010.

"Four years ago, when I first began talking about the University of Arkansas reaching the level of $100 million in annual research awards, there were some who doubted the ability of our faculty and staff to compete at that level. Clearly, our faculty and staff can compete at the highest levels in research competitions, as demonstrated this past year. The list of research universities that won major awards from the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation includes the nation's strongest universities and the University of Arkansas is on that list," said University of Arkansas Chancellor John A. White.

The Chronicle of Higher Education Almanac for 2000-2001 shows that the top 100 institutions for federal research expenditures in 1998 ranged from Johns Hopkins University with $752 million to Washington State University at $44 million. The U of A is closing in on this list with $40,723,221 in federal support in FY2001, up $13 million from $27,716,584 in FY2000. This also brings the University closer to its goal of having at least $50 million annually in federally funded research by 2010.

"Thanks to matching funds provided by the state, our researchers have been encouraged to compete for large federal grants," said Collis Geren, dean of the graduate school and associate vice chancellor for research. "With support from the state, our researchers have shown that the University of Arkansas competes successfully at the national level.

"I’ve always felt that, with enough support, we have the faculty prowess to be nationally competitive, and the results of this year’s research funding prove that," Geren added. "Now we need to continue striving to achieve our research goals."

This successful year follows an 18.3 percent increase in research expenditures from FY 1999 ($41.5 million) to FY 2000 ($49.1 million). The two year increase from $41.5 million in FY1999 to $59.2 million in FY 2001 is 43 percent.

"An increase of this magnitude over two years is nothing short of spectacular, and there are many indications that our faculty are continuing to accelerate their research activity," Chancellor White said. "This is good news, not only for the University, but for the entire state, as research is the engine of the New Economy in which Arkansas must compete.

"Our goal is to generate $100 million in research expenditures by 2010, but it now looks as if we will reach that goal ahead of schedule," Chancellor White said. "Not only was this year impressive in terms of the magnitude of research support, but it was also a fabulous year in terms of the quality of the competitions we won. Our faculty and staff are to be congratulated for an excellent performance in the funded research arena this past year."

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-Extensive university.

Research awards by college and school for the fiscal year 2001 include:

Administration $886,033

Agriculture $18,827,448

Architecture $25,091

Arts and Sciences $23,433,626

Business Administration $227,438

Division of Student Services $1,238,542

Education $3,899,397

Engineering $10,708,682

Law $36,434

Total $59,282,691