We have been as scrupulous with this budget as possible. Far the largest share of the budget (82.5%) is helping students further their education and realize their aspiration of becoming biomedical research scientists working in research labs.

By the second year of the project 24 undergraduate students, 6 graduate students, a part-time secretary, up to 20 faculty members, 4 Co-PDs, three academic departments, four HBCU colleges, KCMS, an off campus consortium, Assessment consultants, an Advisory Committee, Progress Reports, keeping the budget up to date will be entities that the Program Director is responsible for. This responsibility is probably more than a faculty member could handle. Fortunately Dr. Ficsor will retire as a Faculty member from WMU as of April 15, 2001 and will continue as a Professor Emeritus with the primary occupation of directing the proposed IMSD project at 20% time commitment and the funded NIH Bridges Program, at 25% time commitment.

A technique course will be taught by a team of faculty. Western Michigan University pays 22% of base salary for the teaching of one course during the Spring or Summer term. The money for this single position will be divided up by the faculty teaching the course

We chose to go with a student secretary as opposed to a professional secretary for the following reasons: less money and based on past experience we will attempt to hire an underrepresented minority student which is good for interaction with minority students as well as gives an on campus job for more minority students.

We are fortunate to have an experienced and dedicated assessment group, called Science and Mathematics Program Improvement (SAMPI) not only on campus, but on the same floor where the three academic departments are located. Dr. Jenness and his group of four PhDs and support staff agreed to evaluate the proposed IMSD program on a continuous basis.

1. Minority Scientist Role Models

We have had very positive experience in the past with Minority Scientist Role Models invited to the Martin Luther, Jr. Day celebration. $1,100 will be budgeted for an internationally recognized visitor/speaker’s travel expenses and honorarium. An additional $400 is budgeted for the travel expenses of 2-3 speakers from nearby locations.

Equipment and supplies. While WMU will provide a computer port to its mainframe, it can not provide a workstation needed for the program. Hence a request for a computer work station.

Office Supplies, telephone, postage and duplication at $1,500 a year is possible, because we have access to at cost duplication (we buy the paper).

Travel to Directors meeting. It appears that this grant coincides with a Directors meeting of IMBRS-IMSD in 2003. We plan three of the IMSD Program personnel to attend this meeting.

1. Undergraduate Research Assistant support. This support will be explained by the different kinds of student participants supported

1. Five underrepresented minority students will participate in a summer research program at WMU from four Historical Black Colleges in agreement with Western Michigan University. According to this agreement Research Assistants will receive $2500.00 for duties performed as Research Assistants for 10 weeks. round trip travel for these students is included.
2. Four Junior standing students per year (eight students in the 2^nd and 3d year of this grant) who finished Research Assistantships in the Bridges to the Baccalaureate Program and who transferred to WMU, therefore, no longer eligible for Research Assistantships in the Bridges Program, will received Research Assistantships. These Research Assistants will work 20 hours per week during the Academic Year, and 30 hours per week during the spring and Summer Terms. These students will carry full loads during the Academic Year. Any one student may receive this research assistantship only up to two years. Most of the Research Assistants depend on the income from their Research Assistantship to be able to go to school and do research.
3. Four students from WMU’s undergraduate student body will be selected to receive Research Assistantships per year (for a total of 8 in the 2^nd and 3d year). Any one student may receive Research Assistantship up to two years. Their work arrangement will be the same as those transferring in from the Bridges Program, above.

WMU’s research faculty who employ Research Assistants have support from their research grants or from the University. However, having Research Assistants usually involves the opening up of new, exploratory projects not in the grant a particular researcher may have. A faculty member/researcher will receive $500.00 per student per academic year to be used at the faculty member’s discretion. An additional $500.00 is similarly scheduled per Undergraduate Research Assistants for the Spring and Summer Terms. $2,0000 per student per year is budgeted for a Graduate Research Assistant.

Travel to research conferences is hardly a topic that needs justification. We will prepare and encourage our Research Assistants to attend Professional Meetings, on the local state and national levels. Whenever possible we take a van to take students for meetings. Not only for lowering costs, but for the companionship which brings people together.

Graduate Assistant support: The agreement between WMU between and four Historically Black Colleges and Universities includes the possibility of graduate education at WMU. Students who will be Research Assistants after their Junior year at WMU from HBCU institutions will be encouraged to study in MS or PhD program in the biomedical sciences at Western Michigan University. In this program we plan to offer Research Assistantships to 3 students a year for a duration of two years after which research assistants will be supported from other sources than the IMSD grant.