title: An innovative program to fund health-oriented student projects and research.
abstract: The price of a university education has increased over the years. As a result, students often graduate with thousands of dollars of debt. Conducting research or developing class projects that require personal expenditures can be overwhelming, if not impossible. Participation in research and in developing projects can enhance a student's educational experience. In an effort to address cost issues and provide an optimal learning experience for all students through participation in projects and research, the College of Health Sciences at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) collaborated with a regional foundation to fund health-oriented students' projects and research. Approximately 100 projects have been funded in amounts from 200 dollars to 10,000 dollars at UTEP. Similar programs can be replicated at other US universities. Establishing a general fund and identifying contributors may be a viable option, although finding a foundation or agency to fund the project poses a challenge.
authors.affiliation: Physical Therapy Program, College of Health Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, 79902, USA. bybee@utep.edu
authors.forename: Ronald F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Bybee
authors.forename: Sharon E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Thompson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017046:Cost Savings; D003479:Curriculum; D005260:Female; D005381:Financing, Organized; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012109:Research Support as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012576:Schools, Health Occupations / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013336:Students, Health Occupations; D013781:Texas; D014146:Training Support / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014495:Universities