PREFACE
 

The Office of Grants and Research Administration reports to the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs. In that capacity, and as a long-time member of the faculty, it has been a pleasure to review this report. The range of activities is truly impressive, as is the quality of publications and other expressions of research. It is noteworthy that scholarly and creative endeavors tend to be sustained over entire careers. Also noteworthy is the success of many junior as well as senior colleagues in obtaining external funding for their work. The level of that funding is critically important for William and Mary's national stature as a research university; it contributes significantly to the College's exemplary internal research program; and it helps to ensure that the College will continue to attract and retain an outstanding faculty.
 

Our students benefit immeasurably from the sheer volume of these scholarly and creative pursuits. The number of graduate and undergraduate research opportunities at William and Mary in the arts and sciences and the graduate and professional schools is large and expanding. This summer alone the College housed over 160 students who were participating in research activities, many of whom received funding through sponsored projects. The recognized quality of our students is, indeed, matched by the learning experiences we provide them. Not simply taught, they are mentored by faculty whose research is at the cutting edge of their fields. The research itself is basic and applied, advancing knowledge just as it responds to the needs of the Commonwealth and nation.
 

The College continues to face funding challenges, but again, through the determined work of its faculty, it has risen to the occasion. A steady increase in proposal submissions over the last two years led to an increase in awards in FY1998 and hopefully FY1999 as well. To support those submitting proposals, the Research Infrastructure Investment Fund (RIIF) continues to be available to support cost-shares on grants. Such investments, in support of a highly creative and enthusiastic faculty, are yielding important benefits.
 

What I see emerging is a changing mix of academic and research programs within which scholarly and creative activities occur. Those activities will continue to flourish in the years ahead if two things happen. First, the external funding for disciplinary-based research we have achieved over the last two decades is maintained at historical levels. Second, our new academic clusters in computational science, environmental science and policy, and policy studies respond to increased external demands for multidisciplinary research. The College's efforts in these areas are already having a positive impact on undergraduate and graduate education at the College.
 

The best way to maintain and increase our level of external funding is for faculty to submit proposals. In order to help faculty locate sources of funding, the Grants Office continues to provide access to an electronic funding notification system, SMARTS. When faculty register for this system, they receive daily notices via email of funding opportunities that match their scholarly/research interests. The College is also participating in a database of faculty expertise, Brainpower for Business, sponsored by the Virginia Center for Innovative Technology (CIT). This internet database contains information on the College's resources and faculty expertise, so that when members of the business community who need technical assistance search this database, they will be able to locate faculty at William & Mary who can provide it. Creating links with businesses opens the door to sponsored projects and faculty research as well as different and unique research experiences for students. I urge you to participate in one or both systems, depending on your interests. And, as always, the Grants Office is there to assist you with these systems and to help you locate funding sources, prepare proposals, and manage your awards.
 

Congratulations on a very fine year!
 

Gary Kreps
Associate Provost for Academic Affairs