ABLE 2007 Funding Source Survey Summary

Charlotte K. Omoto
Washington State University, Pullman, WA
omoto@mail.wsu.edu

Summary of Funding Source Survey of ABLE 2007 Participants

There were 97 respondents, or ~60% of the meeting participants. The response is indicated in % and thus rounding may indicate slightly higher or lower than 100%. Tenure-track includes tenured faculty.
For funding percentage, when no percentages were indicated with 2 sources of funding, I used 50% each. All percentages were rounded to the nearest 10% and when +/- 5% were indicated, I arbitrarily rounded it up or down to the nearest 10%. Any notes indicating potential funding or possible changes in funding in the future were ignored.

Country          US       - 87%
                        Canada – 12%

Position

            Tenure-track – 41%
            Non-tenure track faculty or instructor – 36%
            Staff – 20%
            Other – 2%

Funding

            Personal Funds
            Eleven individuals paid completely from personal funds, all from US, 5 tenure-track, 3 non-tenure track, 3 staff.
            An additional 8 individuals paid for 40-70% from personal funds, all from US, 4 tenure-track, 2 non-tenure track, 2 staff.
            Further 15 individuals paid for 10-30% from personal funds, all from US, 8 tenure-track, 5 non-tenure track, 1 staff, 1 other.
             
            Institutional Funds – the subcategories were ambiguous since many institutions have set aside funds for professional development or travel but one needed to apply for it, so I have lumped together all institutional support.
            73% of respondents had 80-100% of funds provided by their institution. This includes 60% of US participants and all but one Canadian participant fell into this group.
43% of these were non-tenure track, 39% were tenure track and 18% staff.

            Grant Funds – Only 8 individuals had any funding from grants to participate, 1 Canadian and the rest US.

Of course, it is impossible to make any firm conclusions from one survey, but it is clear that a significant percentage of participants receive institutional support to participate in ABLE. It is unclear whether Canadians receive higher percentage of institutional support for such activities, or that they do not participate without support.  It may be interesting to do a similar survey next year when Canadian participation may increase.  To increase the level of participation in the survey, we might consider giving it at registration time.