LORMAN – Alcorn State University has come up with a new way to motivate full-time faculty — the opportunity to apply for $1,000 grants for anything from travel to seminars to new research projects.

&uot;This is a very unique grant made available by the ASU Foundation,&uot; said President Dr. Clinton Bristow. &uot;You have the foundation realizing the importance of giving faculty members an opportunity to constantly develop themselves.&uot;

The foundation, headed by James Biglane of Natchez, is the fund-raising arm of the historically black public university. Bristow said faculty members are already submitting applications for the grants.

Bristow said the idea behind the grants is to allow faculty members to continue their professional development and increase their knowledge.

&uot;This puts ASU faculty in a leading position,&uot; he said.

&uot;Projects can range from the purchase of new software to money to attend a conference to computer equipment.&uot;

Bristow said the grants from the foundation also prove that the school’s fund-raising group doesn’t just raise money — it uses it to further education at the university. &uot;Our foundation raises money and gives it back to faculty and students,&uot; he said.