By Ralph Derickson

"UK's research enterprise is continually growing, but what's even more improtant is how these numbers translate into improved lives for Kentuckians."

-- Jim Boling,
acting vice president for research

Jan. 22, 2002 (Lexington, Ky.) -- The University of Kentucky has advanced two places in the annual rankings of the top 200 research universities recently published by the National Science Foundation. UK is now ranked 47th among all research universities and colleges, both public and private, up from the 49th spot. The NSF rankings are based on research expenditures, the spending reported by each university for research.

UK reported $202,392,000 in research expenditures for fiscal year 2000, a 16 percent increase over the previous year.

"Our faculty and staff are to be congratulated on their increased research productivity reflected not only in these numbers but also in the record increases in new grants and contracts brought in over the past few years," said Acting Vice President for Research Jim Boling. "UK's research enterprise is continually growing, but what's even more important is how these numbers translate into improved lives for Kentuckians."

Another measure from the NSF on federally financed research and development expenditures shows UK in the 75th spot with a 12 percent increase. UK maintained the 32nd position among public universities and colleges.

The year-to-date total of new grants and contracts for fiscal year 2002 already indicates another record year for UK research with an 11 percent increase in awards through December 2001.

For more information on NSF's Academic Research and Development Expenditures: Fiscal Year 2000 early release tables, see www.nsf.gov/sbe/srs/rdexp/start.htm.