|
|
RUGS' Cathi Eagan |
Q: You secured funding for the McNair Scholar Program. Please explain this program.
A: The McNair Scholar Program is funded for four years at $800,000 by the U.S. Department of Education. The program is to serve low-income, first-generation students, regardless of ethnicity, and minority undergraduates who have an interest and desire to pursue doctoral education.
Q: Why did you go after this grant?
A: First, I hoped to gain external money to offer talented students from under-represented populations at IUB an opportunity to engage in extensive research and teaching opportunities under the guidance of faculty mentors, thereby increasing the students' competitiveness for graduate school entrance. Secondly, joining the McNair network would allow us to recruit talented, low-income, first-generation and minority undergraduates to our own graduate programs. To date, 19 McNair Scholars have graduated and of those, all but three are in graduate school.
Q: You also co-authored a successful grant proposal with Marc Muskavitch in biology for the MEDIC-B program. What is this program?
A: MEDIC-B is funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) at $1.3 million for four years. The program prepares minority undergraduates for graduate study and careers in biomedical research. This spring, 25 IUB undergraduates who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents from minority groups will be selected as MEDIC-B Scholars.
Q: But this program extends beyond immediate financial assistance given to MEDIC-B students, doesn't it?
A: The MEDIC-B program is a partnership among IUB and seven institutions that traditionally serve minority populations -- Alcorn State, Clark Atlanta, Morehouse, New Mexico State, Spelman College, Xavier University of Louisiana and North Carolina at Pembroke. The program will fund students from those institutions to come to IU for summer research internships and provide for academic interaction among faculty and administration which will enhance ongoing research, course development and educational infrastructure.
Q: Why is funding for minority students especially important today?
A: There are far too few American undergraduates enrolling in doctoral programs, in particular from those groups that are under-represented. For reasons ranging from economic and educational equity to concern for economic competitiveness, state and federal policy makers are interested in increasing the number of Ph.D.s. One solution to the doctoral shortage among under-represented groups is to expand access to graduate programs. Subsequently, the number of under-represented faculty and administrators on college campuses would be increased. This would greatly enhance the campus climate in American higher education and would provide role models and mentors for younger under-represented students.
Q: As a successful grant writer, what would you tell others?
A: I think it is important that more IU faculty and administrative staff search for appropriate funding and write proposals to capture external dollars. With the rising costs of higher education, it's becoming more difficult to run student service programs on institutional money. Grant writing can be exhausting and may require numerous rewrites and submissions, but it is worth the effort. I would strongly suggest that those interested attend a grant writing workshop or read a few books on grant writing. Potential donors can be identified by talking with grant specialists at IUB's Sponsored Research Services or at the IU Foundation. Finally, I'd suggest brushing up on writing skills so that you are able to clearly and concisely convey the need for funds.
Related Link:
Return to Table of Contents