University of Kentucky College of Social Work
Research Operations Area1
The College of Social Work (CoSW) seeks to foster a robust culture of research predicated on consistent faculty development, intentional investment in research infrastructure, and rigorous evaluation of CoSW research initiatives. This overarching aim, and the associated principles, influence how CoSW allocates resources, in general, and proposal development initiatives, specifically.
CoSW - Wethington Awards
The Wethington Awards program serves five purposes that are linked to CoSW’s efforts to move our unit towards national prominence:
increase the number of applications to extramural funding agencies;
increase the level of grant and contract funding;
provide enhanced opportunities for graduate student and postdoctoral training;
enhance the level of indirect costs revenue for redistribution and investment; and,
facilitate the recruitment and retention of research-oriented faculty.
Funding for this mechanism is made available through salary reimbursement funds generated through shifting of general fund salary costs to extramural grants and contracts (i.e., ledger 4 accounts). Per UK guidelines, collaborators outside of CoSW, consultants, postdoctoral fellows, postdoctoral scholars, emeriti faculty, graduate students, visiting scholars, post-retirement appointees, and staff are not eligible for the Wethington Awards program. As well, the dean is not eligible for the program.
As previously discussed, principal investigators (PI) who generate savings yields for Fiscal Year (FY) 26 will receive 30% of those savings (less any monies associated with covering course buyouts or unallocated summer/other payments). NOTE: Grants with specified minimums associated with effort will not be included.
If there are any questions, comments, concerns, and/or celebrations about Wethington Awards, please reach out to Rachel Jewell in the Office of the Dean.
1 These initiatives are consistent with our Forward, Together: Strategic Priorities, Objectives, and Tactics planning document (see Strategic Priority Area #3: Inspiring Impactful Ingenuity through Research).