Three UGA research projects have been named as the inaugural recipients of the Student Affairs Faculty Research Grant.
The grants encourage the use of Student Affairs programs and facilities as a principal laboratory for research, enhancing the role of the division in campus research.
The recipients include projects that will assess the social and financial impact of the UGA Food Scholarship, examine family relationships when students transition to college and investigate plans to improve water quality.
Erin Richman, director of Student Affairs academic partnerships and initiatives, said incentivizing partnerships between Student Affairs and faculty benefits both students and researchers.
“The grants encourage researchers to access the many campus resources using our robust facilities,” said Richman. “Ultimately, we not only create innovative partnerships, but we maximize the impact of scarce research dollars.”
Recipients of the 2017 Student Affairs Faculty Research Grants are:
• “An Exploration of How the UGA Food Scholarship Affects Students’ Social and Financial Success in College,” Georgianna L. Martin, an assistant professor in the College of Education’s counseling and human development services department.
• “Parent-Child Relationships across Students’ Transitions to College,” Katie Ehrlich, an assistant professor in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences psychology department and the Center for Family Research, and Anne Shaffer, an associate professor in the psychology department.
• “Concept Plans to Improve Water Quality,” Jon Calabria, an associate professor in the College of Environment and Design, in partnership with the Office of Sustainability.
Ehrlich said Student Affairs departments have unique access to students on campus, and she looks forward to sharing the results of her research to enhance campus programming.
“By establishing a formal partnership with Student Affairs, we hope to open the dialogue about what resources on campus are most beneficial as students enter college,” said Ehrlich.
She also said that the grant played a role in expediting a new faculty collaboration with Shaffer.
“Had it not been for this award, Anne and I likely would have had a slower start to starting a joint project,” she said.
Vice President for Student Affairs Victor K. Wilson, whose office funds the grants, points to the program as rounding out his division’s support of the university’s three-part mission of teaching, research and service.
“We are proud of the excellent learning experiences and service opportunities Student Affairs offers,” Wilson said. “We have always been very supportive of research, and these grants clearly communicate Student Affairs’desire to be a full partner in faculty research.”
The call for proposals for the 2017-2018 cycle will go out in early March with a submission deadline in May. Visit partner.studentaffairs.uga.edu for more information.