Science, dance and film are among the disciplines that have received a boost to fund 20 new projects for the coming year.
The Ohio University Foundation distributed nearly $400,000 in research awards and learning programs through the 1804 Awards, which were announced at the end of September.
Created in 1979, the 1804 Awards have given out more than $12.8 million dollars to both undergraduate and graduate faculty and students.
Funding for the awards is from a money market account and is therefore subject to market fluctuation, said Roxanne Malé-Brune, projects coordinator for the vice president of research. For example, awards in the Office of Research are offered through the university budget, and could be cut because of budget cuts. However, the OU Foundation invests money every year specifically for the 1804 Awards and distributes the funds based on how well or how poorly the economy is doing.
We've been able to guess the market conditions
and so we requested that the applicants stick to a certain range she said. Applicants this year were asked to keep requests to a $30,000 maximum and were encouraged to find matching funds or other grants.
Twenty proposals were granted funds this year - said David Descutner, dean of University College and chair of the undergraduate learning committee. We like proposals connected to service learning and that give undergraduates a chance to participate in research and creative activity.
Descutner and Vice President for Research Jack Bantle reviewed the recommendations made by the selection committees before presenting them to OU President Robert Glidden and the OU Foundation Board.
The board is the decision body and we're just advising them
but we're all very pleased with what was received this year
he said. A lot of innovative and creative faculty are doing incredible work to benefit and engage the students and help them accomplish learning.
Because of the shaky economy, the amount of money available for the 1804 Awards has gone down in last few years, said Leonard Raley, executive director of the OU Foundation. In the past the program has awarded as much as $550,000 in one year, Raley wrote in an e-mail.
Although the amount of money has fluctuated, the Foundation Board has maintained a relatively consistent number of recipients. This year 24 proposals were submitted for faculty and graduate research. The number of undergraduate learning proposals was unavailable.
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Katie Primm
