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Kentucky State University is continuing its investment in research and development and climbing its way up the national rankings. 

According to the recently published National Science Foundation (NSF) Higher Education Research and Development Survey, Kentucky State ranks 357th out of 644 institutions reporting research expenditures. Kentucky State’s ranking has climbed five positions from the previous year when it ranked 362nd.

“The continued growth in research and development expenditures for Kentucky State is proof of the state governments investment in us by allocating funds to match the federal research dollars that promote workforce development and innovation in the Commonwealth of Kentucky,” Derrick Gilmore, Director of Office Research, Grants and Sponsored Programs at Kentucky State, said. “Additionally, these increases show the strategic approach to faculty recruitment and development by the university administration.”

Kentucky State has continued to climb over the last few years, defying national trends. Investment in research and development is up nationally, but still at low levels historically.

“In FY17 higher education research and development increased across all funding sources at a rate of 4.7 percent from FY16,” Gilmore said. “However, the overall share of higher education research and development supported by the federal government was almost the same from FY16 (54 percent) and FY17 (53.5 percent), the lowest share since reporting began in 1953.”

The impacts of the investment are positive for the University, Gilmore said.

“The increases in research expenditures allow faculty at Kentucky State to provide students with cutting-edge research engagements, provide assistantships that reduce student financial burdens, and provides lab and experiential learning experiences that promote success as students transition to the global marketplace,” Gilmore said.

Among state institutions reporting, Kentucky State ranks fourth out of eight. Kentucky State expended more than Murray State, Northern Kentucky University, and Morehead State University.

Among 49 reporting historically black colleges and universities, Kentucky State ranked 23rd, which is up from 29th the previous fiscal year.