(JACKSON, Miss) – Over the past five years, the external funding portfolio for Jackson State University has averaged $60 million. For fiscal year 2011-2012, the university garnered $49 million in awards, which was a major accomplishment given the federal budget limitations and the daunting range of competition.
“External funding helps not only in enhancing the university’s Carnegie Foundation classification as a ‘high research activity university,’ it also advances the research and teaching excellence of our faculty and staff and the learning experiences of our students,” said JSU President Carolyn W. Meyers.
The university has made great strides in a number of areas involving faculty and students, and the $49 million figure represents external funding for 180 projects from federal and state agencies and private foundations that continue to expand the work of the university.
“This fiscal year has been extremely challenging, but a good year for JSU in spite of tough budgetary challenges,” said Felix Okojie, JSU Vice President of Research and Federal Relations.
In the recently released National Science Foundation Research and Development expenditures report of U.S. institutions of higher learning, JSU ranked No. 2 in R&D expenditures among all Historically Black Colleges and Universities.