Faculty in the College of Liberal Arts doubled the amount of external funding they received last year compared to the year before, and indeed, compared to the three years before that. And they expect to do even better this year. In 2005-2006, CLA got more than $4 million in extramural funding.
“Research funding is a growing strength in the college,” said Erich Lear, dean, College of Liberal Arts. “Renewed attention, with the appointments of Paul Whitney as associate dean for research and Susan Ross as associate dean for corporate and foundation research, has helped the CLA turn the corner.”
Whitney said he and Ross met with all units in the college to discuss funding challenges and opportunities, and they expect to provide even more support this year.
“CLA has been taking a much more active role in supporting faculty research,” he said.
One new initiative this year is the creation of a proposal support team that will help identify funding sources, provide internal proposal reviews and liaison with the Office of Grant Research and Development.
“We have people with skills that we can bring to the table who can cross college boundaries and help make interdisciplinary research more competitive,” Whitney said. Technological advances are impeded by failing to consider the human component, Whitney said, and that’s why CLA collaboration can be a big asset.
Lear also mentioned the importance of intercollege collaboration.
“The change also speaks to the relevant research of our faculty,” he said. “In a world where our dependence on science and technology deepens each day, it is the liberal arts that keep us human.”
