Through faculty member applications, UCCS earned $12.5 million to fund various projects including research-based, training, curriculum-focused and other community-specific programs.
Grants are “any funding that’s coming from outside of the university into the university for specific type programming that has terms and conditions and restrictions around it” that does not have to be paid back, according to Jacqueline Rearick, executive director of the office of sponsored programs and research integrity.
According to Rearick, 53 percent of funding came from federal sources, such as the National Science Foundation.
The funding allowed faculty members to produce 283 journal articles, 75 artist works and exhibits, 56 books and chapters and 421 peer-reviewed presentations, according to a flyer featured in the 2024-2025 Celebrating Research booklet compiled by the Office of Research.
According to Rearick, the Office of Sponsored Programs and Research Integrity help faculty members complete the pre-award process to apply for a grant. “It’s kind of like doing your homework.” she said.
The process begins when faculty members find a grant with terms and conditions that align with their proposal idea. The office helps the faculty member put together a proposal package that includes a project narrative or research plan, the budget and its justification, the faculty member’s academic credibility and what facilities and/or resources the proposal will require.
The proposal then must be approved via Cayuse sponsored programs, the UCCS internal routing system, according to the Office of Sponsored Programs and Research Integrity website. After approval, the proposal is sent to the grant sponsor.
A complete list of proposals funded during the 2025 fiscal year can be found here. According to the Office of Research website, 53.7 percent of funding was for research-based proposals.
Students can assist faculty members with research projects by joining The Center for Student Research or the Undergraduate Research Academy.
The Center for Student Research is a peer-mentoring program for undergraduate and graduate students to collaborate with faculty members on research. According to the Celebrating Research Booklet, 330 students participated last year during the Center’s sixth year of operation.
Students in the Undergraduate Research Academy are paid research assistants to faculty members. According to the Celebrating Research Booklet, the academy was given $88,000 during the 2025 fiscal year to fund projects and student positions.
The 17th annual Mountain Lion Research Day will be on Dec. 12 from noon to 4 p.m. in the Gallogly Events Center. According to previous Communique reporting, Mountain Lion Research Day is “an opportunity for the UCCS campus to experience high-caliber research conducted by members of the UCCS community.”
Submissions to participate open Tuesday, Oct. 7. Once submissions open, a link will be available on the Office of Research’s website.
The UCCS campus. Photo by Josiah Dolan.