The Non-Instructional Faculty Assignment Committee has selected four faculty members and their research proposals for funding in the 2005-2006 year.

Those faculty and their proposal titles are:

* Marketta Laurila, interim chairperson of Foreign Languages, "Elena Garro and Zelda Fitzgerald"

* Harsha Mookherjee, professor of Sociology, "Life Goals of Young Adults"

* Jeffrey Norden, professor of Mathematics, "Customizable Textbook"

* Sharon Whitney, associate professor of Political Science, "Status of Marriage in the U.S."

The non-instructional assignment program allows faculty members release time from all teaching duties for either fall or spring semester or one-half release time for the entire academic year.

Proposals are evaluated according to their contribution to the professional growth of faculty, improvement of teaching and curricula, and enhancement of scholarship and academic excellence in ways that cannot be accomplished under the constraints of regular workload assignments.