$1.3 million in grants received in October
Dec. 9, 2001
KALAMAZOO -- More than $1.3 million in grants was received by Western Michigan University during the month of October, according to a report presented to the University's Board of Trustees Dec. 7.
A total of $1,331,678 was received in October, bringing the total of grants received by the University since the July 1 start of the fiscal year to $18,119,451.
The largest grant received during October was an award for $195,247 from the National Science Foundation to Dr. Elise DeDoncker, professor of computer science, to upgrade computer hardware used in ongoing research of parallel and distributed algorithm design and development.
A number of grants were received to fund new initiatives to improve elementary and secondary education. Among those was a U.S. Department of Education award for $191,132 to Dr. Gary J. Miron, principal research associate in the Evaluation Center, for the first year of a two-year project aimed at evaluating elements of success in America's charter schools. Dr. Ruth A. Ervin, assistant professor of psychology, received $88,288 from the Ottawa Area Intermediate School District in Holland, Mich., to develop a school-based intervention model to address the learning and behavior needs of students with disabilities. Dr. Alonzo Hannaford, associate dean of the College of Education, received a $75,000 award from the Michigan Department of Education to provide teachers with training on how to successfully integrate students with disabilities or special needs into science classrooms. The Michigan Department of Education also awarded $61,314 to Dr. William W. Cobern, professor of teaching, learning and leadership, to help teachers develop ecology and science projects on the grounds of their schools.
Other grants received in October include:
A $108,957 award to James T. Schaper, director of auxiliary enterprises, from various companies to continue research and testing in specialized areas of paper science engineering for industry;
An award for $86,593 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to Dr. Donna M. Weinreich, assistant professor of community health services, to train allied health students in interdisciplinary team methods to serve aging and culturally diverse populations; and
An award from the State of Michigan for $21,577 to Dr. Michael Nassaney, associate professor of anthropology, to conduct an archaeological survey of Ramptown, a historical settlement of escaped African-American slaves believed to have been located in Vandalia, Mich.
Media contact: Marie Lee, 269 387-8400, marie.lee@wmich.edu