Wichita State University has experienced record increases in research funding in the past five years, with no signs of slowing down.

External funding for WSU research grew from $56.6 million in FY 2012 to $90.5 million in FY 2017. The goal for FY 2018 is to reach $100 million.

A key goal of any research university is to create new knowledge, and external grant funding is critical to support those efforts, says Dennis Livesay, dean of the Graduate School and associate vice president of the Office of Research and Technology Transfer.

One of the most compelling reasons an undergraduate student should attend a research university is to participate in that knowledge creation process, he says.

“WSU is a world leader in that ‘learn by doing’ aspect, as most of our research activity includes undergraduates,” Livesay says. “In this way, external funding supports our strategic goal of an applied learning or research experience for all students.”

The bulk of the recent growth comes from WSU’s National Institute for Aviation Research, with a total of nearly $215 million in funded research over the past five years, $61 million of which was received in FY 2017.

Continuing efforts are underway to increase funding within academic colleges, as well, Livesay says.

Grants are funded by a variety of sources, including the federal government, private foundations and industry. In each case, the funder identifies areas of need, and proposals are selected based on their ability to address that need.