UVM received a record $146 million in external funds this year. The money will be used for research, instruction, public service and extension efforts, University Communications stated. “Our outstanding faculty is dedicated not only to educating our students but also to creating meaningful new knowledge and expression,” Vice President for Research and Dean of the Graduate College Domenico Grasso said. “This significant increase in external funding is a resounding endorsement and reflection of their capabilities and potential.” About 83 percent of the 755 awards the University received will go toward research, University Communications stated. “Our faculty’s success in attracting a record amount of research funding is a strong measure of the University’s significant advance over the last decade,” President Daniel Mark Fogel said. “The variety and volume of these sponsored awards show that our goal of being one of the nation’s premier small research universities is eminently achievable.” Award amounts have grown, rising 9 percent over fiscal year 2009 and 96 percent since 2000, when sponsored awards were $75 million, according to University Communications.