Introducing the NEW Student Research Resource Hubs – a page dedicated to resources across campus to support your research and creative activity endeavors. Check out the separate hubs for our WCU Undergraduate and Graduate Students.
Looking to connect with a faculty mentor? Check out the RAM Research Directory — a tool designed to connect researchers, help students find faculty mentors, and provide a listing for student research and creative activity opportunities (paid and unpaid) that are currently available.
Check out our 2023-2024 WCU Sponsored Programs Research Report where we feature a handful of our amazing faculty, staff, and students who have participated in various grant projects, research, and creative activities over the past academic year.
Contributing to the learning community and developing skills that lead to success
$6.2M
External Funding Amount Received for AY 2023/24
267
IRB submissions for AY 2023/24
86
AY 2023/24 Grant Funding Proposals Submitted
Our Mission
It is the mission of the West Chester University Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP) to facilitate, coordinate, and safeguard the institution’s research and creative activity enterprise. We enhance the university’s ability to be an educational and cultural resource for students, alumni, and citizens of southeastern Pennsylvania by providing faculty with:
- Information on funding opportunities from federal, state, and private‐sector sponsors.
- Proposal development support.
- Introduction to post-award policies and procedures.
- Incentives to form interdisciplinary teams.
- Incentives to develop intellectual property.
- Incentives to integrate research and creative activity into coursework.
We also promote undergraduate research and creative activity by facilitating faculty/student collaborations, organizing Research and Creative Activity Day, and managing awards for student work.
Who We Are
Cheryl Neale-McFall, PhD, LPC, NCC
Associate Provost for Research and Creative Activities
CNeale-McFall@wcupa.edu
(610) 436-2432
Holly Schwarz
Administrative Assistant
HSCHWARZ@wcupa.edu
(610) 436-3557
Catherine Spaur
Grants Development Specialist
CSpaur@wcupa.edu
(610) 436‐3060
Supports Colleges of Arts & Humanities, Business & Public Management, and Education
& Social Work
Cara Williams
Grants Development Specialist
CWilliams@wcupa.edu
(610) 436-3064
Supports Colleges of Health Sciences and Sciences & Mathematics (except Political
Science, Psychology and Anthropology & Sociology)
Charles Graham
Post-Awards Grants Management Specialist
CGraham@wcupa.edu
610-436-3484
Lydia Milrod
Graduate Research Assistant
LA1008896@wcupa.edu
Patricia Dixon
Graduate Research Assistant
PD982631@wcupa.edu
Nakita ramachandra Purohit
Graduate Research Assistant
NP1053483@wcupa.edu
Daniel Schoenleber
Graduate Research Assistant
DS1033107@wcupa.edu
Heather Leaman
IRB co-Chair
hleaman@wcupa.edu
What We Do
Current F&A WCU Rate
ORSP Newsletters
Student Research Hubs
Upcoming Grant Opportunities
Summer Undergraduate Research Institute (SURI) at West Chester University
GRANT LIFE CYCLE
The life cycle of a grant is divided into pre- and post-award; coordinated by two offices:
- Pre-award: All ORSP
- Post-award: ORSP and Finance & Business Services
All enrolled students were asked to participate in an Experiential Learning Survey & were asked the question:
Looking back, what was the highlight of your experiential learning – what impacted you the most?
Here are some of their answers:
“Having a close relationship with faculty that allowed me to learn firsthand how to conduct research at the graduate level.”
“I believe engaging in research with my professor help shaped who I am. They have pushed me past my boundaries to make me stronger in my field. From that experience, I feel like I have created a direct career goal and passion.”
“Research impacted me the most. I have mentors and peers who share the same interests and bringing academia to life was a life-changing opportunity.”
