MUNCIE — Ball State University obtained only $11.1 million in external funding for research and other scholarly work in 2014-15, far short of the $25 million goal, the university's board of trustees was told this week.
Trustees also heard about enrollment projections during a retreat in Indianapolis.
The university's Centennial Commitment strategic plan calls for Ball State to be "the model of the most student-centered and community-engaged of the 21st century public research universities," but it's not going to back up its aspirations without an increase in research funding.
The university's Sponsored Projects Administration estimates Ball State faculty and staff secured $15 million in research, creative and programmatic external funding in 2015-16, which was barely half of the $29 million goal. The goal for 2016-17 is $32 million.
The annual report for 2014-15 external funding has not been released yet.
But in 2013-14, notable sources of external funding for BSU projects included the U.S. Department of State, Creative Associates International, National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs, State of Indiana, Indiana Economic Development Corp., Indiana Department of Education and Lilly Endowment.