Western officials plan to stimulate campus programs and research with money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Faculty and staff in areas across campus, including the Ogden College of Science and Engineering and the College of Health and Human Services are preparing proposals for stimulus money.

The grants the university’s seeking can provide scholarships and research opportunities said Richard Bowker, vice president for research and dean of graduate studies.

“These are things that make a good university great,” he said.

Kentucky universities have two routes to get stimulus money – through statewide committees or through university personnel filling out grant proposals, Bowker said.

Made up of members from public and private universities, the state committees cover sectors including college readiness and energy and sustainability, said Sue Patrick, communications director for the Council on Postsecondary Education.

She said CPE’s reviewing about 50 proposals from the committees before eventually submitting Kentucky’s proposals for stimulus money.

“There’s a mix of ideas and innovations that are in the hopper,” she said.

Patrick said Kentucky wants to be ready when federal agencies request proposals.

She said having collaborations between the universities might put Kentucky in a better position to get grant money.

“We will be well-positioned to attract this money to Kentucky, which is extremely important for economic development and to increase innovation and talent for our state,” she said.

Bowker said faculty and staff can apply for grants through organizations, such as the National Science Foundation, that received stimulus money.

Such organizations didn’t have enough money to pay for some projects before they got stimulus money, Bowker said.

John Bonaguro, dean of the College of Health and Human Services, said a team is working on a proposal for a grant that deals with autism spectrum disorder.

If awarded the money, Western officials could examine treatment outcomes of the children with autism who are involved with Clinical Education Complex programs, he said. It would test the success of the programs.

The grant could be for as much as $350,000 for two years, he said.

The College of Health and Human Services also wants to seek grant money to fund research facilities for exercise sciences, nursing and environmental health research, he said.

Bowker said Western has an incentive plan to encourage faculty and staff to apply for grants.

According to the grant incentive outline, faculty and staff can get from $250 to $1,000 for professional development accounts, depending on how much grant money they request.

They could use money in a professional development account to hire a student worker for help, Bowker said .

He said applying for grants is hard work for faculty members, especially considering their other responsibilities, including teaching and advising.

“Those are a lot of hats to wear,” he said.