Grants to WMU pushed past $2.8 million in November, December

KALAMAZOO—Grants to Western Michigan University climbed past $2.8 million in November and December, driving the year-to-date total of externally funded awards to more than $16 million, WMU Trustees learned at their Jan. 22 meeting.

By the end of December the total of grants received since the July 1 start of the fiscal year stood at $16,321,884. The current fiscal year will end June 30.

Public service grants

Public service grants made up the lion's share of the most recent two-month total, topping $1.7 million, followed by grants for instruction at $553,939.

Notable public service grants included a $588,698 award from Kalamazoo Community Mental Health Services to Dr. Carol Sundberg, director of the WMU Center for Disability Services, to provide daily living, communication, behavior control and social skill services to adults with developmental disabilities.

A second public service grant, totaling $500,000, was awarded by the Michigan Department of Community Health to Drs. Stephanie M. Peterson, and R. Wayne Fuqua, chair and professor, respectively, of psychology. The grant will fund work to assist the state in building up its autism resources to meet the needs of children and families affected by autism.

Grants for instruction, research

Grants for instruction were led by a nearly $300,000 renewing award from the U.S. Department of Education to Dr. Jiabei Zhang, professor of human performance and health education, to train 44 adapted physical education teachers over four years, using the hybrid online master's program.

Research grants received during November and December included a $75,000 award from various industries to Drs. David Meade and John Patten, associate professor and chair, respectively, of manufacturing engineering, to provide research services to the Green Manufacturing Industrial Consortium.