The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs

Introducing the new RAM Research Directory — a tool designed to connect researchers, help students find faculty mentors, and provide a listing for student research and creative activity opportunities (paid and unpaid) that are currently available.

Check out our 2023-2024 WCU Sponsored Programs Research Report where we feature a handful of our amazing faculty, staff, and students who have participated in various grant projects, research, and creative activities over the past academic year.

GrantForward is a comprehensive database that contains more than 83,000 funding opportunities covering more than 20,000 sponsors worldwide, providing the ability for WCU faculty, students, and staff to identify grants to fund their research.
Find out more about GrantFoward

Contributing to the learning community and developing skills that lead to success

$6.2M

External Funding Amount Received for AY 2023/24

267

IRB submissions for AY 2023/24

AY 2023/24 Grant Funding Proposals Submitted

PRG and Sustainability Grant Awardees

2023 SURI Awardees

2023 SRCA Student Awardees

Our Mission

It is the mission of the West Chester University Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP) to facilitate, coordinate, and safeguard the institution’s research and creative activity enterprise. We enhance the university’s ability to be an educational and cultural resource for students, alumni, and citizens of southeastern Pennsylvania by providing faculty with:

Information on funding opportunities from federal, state, and private‐sector sponsors.
Proposal development support.
Introduction to post-award policies and procedures.
Incentives to form interdisciplinary teams.
Incentives to develop intellectual property.
Incentives to integrate research and creative activity into coursework.

We also promote undergraduate research and creative activity by facilitating faculty/student collaborations, organizing Research and Creative Activity Day, and managing awards for student work.

Who We Are

Cheryl Neale-McFall, PhD, LPC, NCC
Associate Provost for Research and Creative Activities
CNeale-McFall@wcupa.edu
(610) 436-2432

Holly Jackson
Administrative Assistant
MJackson2@wcupa.edu
(610) 436-3557

Catherine Spaur
Grants Development Specialist
CSpaur@wcupa.edu
(610) 436‐3060
Supports Colleges of Arts & Humanities, Business & Public Management, and Education & Social Work

Cara Williams
Grants Development Specialist
CWilliams@wcupa.edu
(610) 436-3064
Supports Colleges of Health Sciences and Sciences & Mathematics (except Political Science, Psychology and Anthropology & Sociology)

Charles Graham
Post-Awards Grants Management Specialist
CGraham@wcupa.edu
610-436-3484

Lydia Milrod
Graduate Research Assistant
LA1008896@wcupa.edu

Patricia Dixon
Graduate Research Assistant
PD982631@wcupa.edu

Heather Leaman
IRB co-Chair
hleaman@wcupa.edu

Melissa Reed
IRB co-Chair
mreed@wcupa.edu

Kristen Breit
IACUC Chair
kbreit@wcupa.edu

Stevie Grassetti
ORSP Faculty Fellow
sgrassetti@wcupa.edu

What We Do

Provide resources and assistance for grant proposal development.
Manage and monitor research and creative activity compliance.
Support the formation of faculty interdisciplinary teams.
Support the development of intellectual property.
Support the integration of research and creative activity into coursework.
Support faculty/student research collaboration.

Current F&A WCU Rate

Colleges and Universities Rate Agreement

ORSP Newsletters

ORSP Committees

Faculty Grant Opportunities & Resources

Student Research Opportunities & Resources

CUR 2024-2025 CUR Institutional Member

Training & Workshops

IRB

Tech Transfer /
Patents / IP

Policies & Guidance

Funding Opportunity Tool

Upcoming Grant Opportunities

Grants for Arts Projects

Through our work, the NEA aims to strengthen the non-profit music ecosystem by supporting projects that have potential regional, national, or field-wide significance, and that nurture the interdependent relationships between and among stakeholders.

21st Annual P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet

EPA seeks projects that support research and demonstration of innovative and cost-effective solutions to chemical safety challenges, including reducing chemical risks

Education for American Civic Life

The mission of the Teagle Foundation is "to support and strengthen liberal arts education, which we see as fundamental to meaningful work, effective citizenship, and a fulfilling life.

Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) - Medium Projects

This program fosters a research community that is committed to advancing education and outreach in CPS and accelerating the transition of CPS research into the real world.

Summer Undergraduate Research Institute (SURI) at West Chester University

GRANT LIFE CYCLE

The life cycle of a grant is divided into pre- and post-award; coordinated by two offices:

Pre-award: All ORSP
Post-award: ORSP and Finance & Business Services

Cyclical arrows: Pre-Award to Post Award. Going around these arrows: Identify funding, write the proposal, develop the budget, compile proposal documents, submit propsal, negotiate award, execute contract, track expenditures, manage timelines, report progress, reconcile expenses, report outcomes. (repeat this process)

All enrolled students were asked to participate in an Experiential Learning Survey & were asked the question:

Looking back, what was the highlight of your experiential learning – what impacted you the most?

Experiential Learning Survey

Here are some of their answers:

“Having a close relationship with faculty that allowed me to learn firsthand how to conduct research at the graduate level.”

“I believe engaging in research with my professor help shaped who I am. They have pushed me past my boundaries to make me stronger in my field. From that experience, I feel like I have created a direct career goal and passion.”

“Research impacted me the most. I have mentors and peers who share the same interests and bringing academia to life was a life-changing opportunity.”