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Recent Grant Funding
Kathy Barclay, Curriculum and Instruction, has received another year of funding in the amount of $78,567 from the Illinois Reading Council for her project entitled, ?Illinois Reading Council Journal. 6,000- 6,750 high-quality copies of four issues of the Illinois Reading Council Journals will be produced and distributed.
Rori Carson, Dean's Office, has most recently received continued funding in the amount of $49,500 from the Illinois Board Higher of Education/HECA for the project entitled, "A Partnership To Facilitate The Development Of Special Educators". The project duration is November 1, 2007 through October 31, 2008.
The goal of the renewal project is to maintain and expand a pipeline for students from area high schools to certification in the field fo special education. The partnership members (WIU, SRC, and CSC) will continue to encourage an interest among secondary students at regional high schools in earning a teaching certificate, help those students access an affordable high quality postsecondary education, promote involvement in the high-needs field of special education, and promote degree completion and increased graduation rates through completion of an Associate of Arts in Teaching (AAT) program.
Earlier this fiscal year, she received continued funding in the amount of $170,000 from the Illinois State Board of Education for the project entitled, "West Central Grow Your Own Teacher Education Initiative". The project duration is September 1, 2007 through August 31, 2008.
These funds will continue to prepare a cohort of paraeducators and parents who have been leaders in schools with hard-to-staff positions to earn teacher certification as Learning Behavior Specialist I special educators. Upon successful completion of GYO Implementation Grant activities, the individuals within the cohort will have completed an approved undergraduate teacher preparation program in special education and will be eligible for placement in positions in targeted schools.
Carson had received supplemental funding in the amount of $43,213 from the Illinois State Board of Education for the project entitled, "West Central Illinois Grow Your Own Teacher Education Initiative: Implementation Grant (FY07)" in the summer of 2007.
Gloria Delany-Barmann and Carla Paciotto, Educational and Interdisciplinary Studies, received funding from the U. S. Department of Education in the amount of $299,980 for their project entitled, "Project Estrella." WIU, in consortium with three school districts (Beardstown School District, East Moline Community School District and Moline Community School District), will conduct a program to support students as they follow a program of study to become professional high qualified bilingual/ESL and mainstream teachers.
Virginia Dilworth, Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration, received $500 from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for her project entitled, "RPTA Student Intern." The purpose of this project is to provide work projects for an RPTA student intern on the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge, Savanna District, and to evaluate the student's work progress.
Michael Godard, Kinesiology, received $144,995 from Finzelberg for the project "Acute and Chronic Effects of Oputia Ficus Indica Supplementation on Pre-Diabetic Males and Females." The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of 16-weeks of Opuntia ficus indica (at two different dosages) administration in pre-diabetic and obese adult males and females. The project will run from November 1, 2007 to December 31, 2008.
Karen Greathouse, Dietetics, Fashion Merchandising and Hospitality, received $25,000 for the project "School Wellness Training CD," from the National Food Service Management Institute. The project entails the development of a national training tool for Food Service Personnel for the state of New Hampshire to better understand the leadership skills necessary when engaging in local wellness policy creation, revision, implementation or evaluation.
Patricia Hutinger and Joyce Johanson, Center for Best Practices in Early Childhood Education, received funding in the amount of $390,000 from the Illinois Department of Human Services for their project entitled, "Provider Connections: Credentialing and Enrollment 08." This project will help to improve the quality of services offered to infants and toddlers in the E1 system through an effective system of E1 providers. Hutinger also received $950,000 from the Illinois State Board of Education “Illinois Starnet Regions I and III – FY08,” which supports a program of innovative technical assistance, research-based training, on-site consultations, and mentoring to Illinois early education personnel who deal with students having special needs in two rural regions. Dr. Hutinger also received funding in the amount of $950,000 from the Illinois State Board of Education for her project titled "Illinois Starnet Regions I and III - FY08." The project duration is July 1, 2007-June 30, 2008. This project is designed to support a program of innovative technical assistance, research-based training, on-site consultations, and mentoring to Illinois early education personnel who deal with students having special needs in two rural regions.
Lorri Kanauss, Dietetics, Fashion Merchandising and Hospitality, Judy Yeast, Campus Recreation, and JoAnn Hairston-Jones, Beu Health Center, received funding in the amount of $19,000 from the Illinois Department of Public Health for their project "Heart Smart for Women." This is an outreach program for women on the Western Illinois University campus to improve their heart health. WIU women will meet on weekly to learn strategies for increasing physical activity and improving healthy eating habits.
Donna McCaw, Educational Leadership, received notice of funding in the amount of $324,999 from the Illinois Board of Higher Education for "Developing SUCCESSFUL Professional Development Schools." The focus of this project is the process and procedural development of two of the three tiers in the development of a research-based professional development school.
Raemarie Oatman, Central Illinois Adult Education Service Center, received $128,250 from the Illinois Community College Board for the project entitled, "ICCB and ICCB Generated - FY08". Curriculum Publications Clearinghouse will make available ICCB approved adult education materials to Illinois customers on a cost-recovery basis. These materials include, but are not limited to, the Constitution Study Guides and Manuals, the BEST Literacy Tests and Manuals, and the BEST Plus materials. Oatman received $393,000 from the Illinois Community College Board in October 2007 for the project entitled, "Central Illinois Adult Education Service Center – FY08". The project duration is July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008. CIAESC provides support to adult education programs in the central region by training educators; sharing information via the Internet; maintaining a lending library; and distributing informative newsletters and articles.