In December 1998, President Gary Ransdell directed that the Western Kentucky University Research Foundation, Inc. (WKURF) be formed to facilitate and expedite scholarship at Western. His vision resulted in approval of the WKURF by the WKU Board of Regents in September 1999, by the Commonwealth of Kentucky in November 1999, and by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit to serve the educational needs of WKU and the community in February 2000. Since July 1, 2001 the WKURF has become operational as the unaffiliated fiscal agent of most external funds from grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements.
The WKURF is directed by a Board of Directors that is composed of WKU's President, Provost, Chief Financial Officer, and Associate Vice President for Research and Economic Development as permanent members. The Associate Vice President for Research and Economic Development serves as Chief Executive Officer for the WKURF. The remaining board members are appointed by the President of WKU. The board's guidance and the cooperation of senior university officials have enabled the WKURF to implement a management agreement and financial procedures with WKU. Currently, the board is working to provide more incentives for faculty members performing research and creative activities.
The rapid growth of external funding in the form of grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements stimulated the formation of the WKURF. With the WKURF as the fiscal agent for WKU on external proposals and awards, the efforts of WKU's faculty and staff members, along with their students, have increased external awards from $11,500,000 in FY97 to nearly $32,000,000 in FY06. The foundation is thus a big step to the next level of funding. But the figures are not as important as the research, instruction, and public service programs that these funds make possible. New programs to increase student learning and faculty development are the results of these combined efforts. New positions in all of the academic colleges and many support units have invigorated Western with activities and infrastructures that would not have been possible under state funding alone.
The WKURF provides many services that would not otherwise be available to Western. It promotes financial flexibility, provides incentives for intellectual property opportunities, provides customized services for contracting with business and industry, and, most importantly, helps Western to attract and retain quality researchers. The WKURF accomplishes these services by promoting the development, implementation, and coordination of extramurally-funded sponsored programs. The investment policy of the Board of Directors has the potential for providing even more incentives to best accomplish our educational purposes.
We hope that you'll take an interest in the growth of the WKURF as one new feature among many exciting areas of growth at WKU. You can reach the research foundation by telephoning 270-745-4652 and asking for Dr. Phil Myers, the Director of Administration, or by e-mailing research.foundation@wku.edu.
Last update made April 17, 2007.
Send comments to: WKURF Webmaster research.foundation@wku.edu
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