The number of research awards at UGA are
down this fiscal year as are the total $.  Our federal funding is
down about 10% while our overall funding support from external
sponsors is down about 17%.

All of us have heard and seen information forecasting the state of
federal support for the future.   I know the climate is
changing, etc. and that the times in front of us in  research
administration will be challenging as we compete for $.  Even with
that, I would appreciate if you could share additional information
related to federal support granted for research to your institution.
Specifically, I am interested in information regarding numbers of
research awards received this fiscal year at your institutions from
specific federal agencies.  In reviewing your federal agency
information from previous years, are you finding a _significant_
decrease in the number of awards that you received this fiscal year
from NSF, NIH, DOE, and USDA?   Any thoughts beyond the state of the
federal budget, continuing resolutions, delayed reviews so proposals
are still in a holding pattern, etc.?

I'm happy to see that a number of institutions had growth in their
research support for the fiscal year.  Good for you -- I think
there may be others like myself who are interested in trying to pin
down more closely if the drop is simply due to the "state of things"
or if it is because of something more the Sponsored Programs office
could do to facilitate faculty's efforts to promote their research.

Thanks.

***********************
Paula C. Tolbert
Acting Director
Division of Sponsored Programs
Office of the Vice President for Research
621 Boyd GSRC
University of Georgia
Athens, GA 30602-7411
706/542-5939
FAX:  706/542-5946