University News
COEHS Establishes Research Office
April 1, 2008
MACOMB, IL -- Western Illinois University's College of Education and Human Services (COEHS) faculty now have research assistance at their fingertips with the creation of the Office of Research Design and Analysis (ORDA).
Housed in the educational leadership (EDL) department, EDL faculty members Bridget Sheng and Donna McCaw provide research expertise to COEHS faculty seeking externally-funded research projects, or ways to publish their findings.
According to Sheng, ORDA's purpose is to encourage collaborative research within and between college departments. Sheng provides data analysis and interpretation services, while McCaw assists with writing creative and innovative grant proposals. Both Sheng and McCaw will serve as liaisons between faculty and Western's Office of Sponsored Projects.
COEHS Dean Bonnie Smith-Skripps said the office was established as part of the college's strategic plan to increase external grant and contract funding and to promote new program development.
"Our goals for ORDA are to increase submitted publications by faculty and to increase the number of faculty submitting requests for proposals through the grant funding process," Smith-Skripps added.
Robert Hall, educational leadership chair, added that the need for quantitative analysis is where Sheng's expertise will come into play. Hall noted that McCaw's extensive successful experiences in grant-writing will greatly assist faculty in that area. In a survey recently sent to COEHS faculty to assess their needs, more than 50 percent indicated they would like assistance in quantitative design and data analysis and interpretation.
"I like to help faculty think through a different lens, to think of different ways to go about their research. I'm aware of what is happening at the federal level in regard to education, and I can provide that expertise to help individuals formulate their research proposals," McCaw said. "I'm here as a sounding board for faculty who have ideas and want to further expand upon those ideas."
"We are here to encourage, and to provide support for research," Sheng added. "We're here to help faculty in COEHS departments at both the Macomb and Quad Cities campuses."
For more information on the Office of Research Design and Analysis, visit www.wiu.edu/coehs/faculty/orda.html or call 309/298-2725.
Posted By: Darcie Shinberger (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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