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WMU tops $1.3 million in grants in November

Dec. 15, 2007

KALAMAZOO--Western Michigan University garnered more than $1.3 million in externally funded awards in November. The amount brings the year-to-date total of grants received for the 2007-08 fiscal year to nearly $13 million.

Research awards accounted for the lion's share of the total, coming in at $734,875. Chief among such grants was a new award of $215,287 from the Michigan Department of Education to Drs. Herb Fynewever, assistant professor of chemistry, Marcia K. Fetters, associate professor of teaching, learning and educational studies, and Charles R. Henderson, assistant professor of physics, allowing them to partner with Battle Creek regional schools, evaluate alignment of the secondary science curriculum in the face of changing state standards and provide professional development for 20 high school science teachers.

Another new research grant of $120,000 went to Drs. Sherif Yehia, associate professor of civil and construction engineering, Osama Abudayyeh, associate dean of the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and Ikhlas Abdel-Qader, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering, to monitor the performance of conductive concrete overlay on a bridge in Calhoun County.

Public service awards for the month came in at $451,878 and were led by a new $199,980 grant from the Michigan Department of State Police to the WMU Department of Public Safety for a software system that will allow electronic reporting of accidents to state police.

The University also received an $81,880 renewal grant from the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth to the Division of Multicultural Affairs to support early awareness and preparation for college for pre-college students through mentoring, counseling, outreach and academic support.

Media contact: Mark Schwerin, (269) 387-8400, mark.schwerin@wmich.edu

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