The University of Memphis has experienced an increase inresearch funding over the past two years, largely due to proactiverecruiting, U of M officials said.
The U of M saw a 21 percent increase in research funding between2001 and 2002, receiving $23.8 million in 2001 and raising thattotal to $29 million in 2002.
The increase in research dollars is partly the result of TheUniversity's hiring procedures in recent years, said David Whipple,director of operations for the vice-provost for research at The Uof M. Whipple said The University has hired new faculty memberswith the expectation that they will write proposals for and receiveresearch grants. But there are also established faculty members whohave been getting more grants as well.
"There are those that are proud (of the increases), but thereare those who want to see even more," Whipple said.
An increase in research dollars is not always a benefit,however, Whipple said, because of the workload that comes fromresearch money as opposed to private giving donations.
"Every dollar also brings with it work to accomplish from thatexternal sponsor," Whipple said. "As long as the work is keepingwith The University's mission, that's fine, but there are some I doquestion."
The University's increase is in keeping with other TennesseeBoard of Regents schools, which experienced an average 16 percentincrease in research dollars and a 10 percent increase in thefive-year average for private giving. This according to theTennessee Board of Regents report card for 2002, released March27.
The two increases in private giving and research are a directresult of the board's emphasis on those areas in the last twoyears, said TBR Director of Communications Mary Morgan.
"The board asked all the schools to put a lot of emphasis inthose areas," Morgan said. "They've put a lot of time into it, andthat time's paid off."
The five-year private giving average for all TBR universitieshas increased from $43.9 million in 2001 to $49.6 million in2002.
The U of M has shown a 26 percent increase in this area, whichis also ahead of the TBR average. The U of M's five-year privategiving average was $11.3 million in 2001 and increased to $14.3million in 2002.
