Research enables faculty members to increase their knowledge, share the excitement of discovery with students, and help solve society’s problems. Because research is an integral part of Texas A&M’s multiple missions, it is an important criterion for faculty awards, promotion and tenure.

Faculty in the College of Liberal Arts conduct research. Basic research in the social sciences and humanities provide the basis for scholarship in business, medicine, public policy, and other applied or professional areas. Bringing in seven to eight million dollars in research and contract support to campus, liberal arts researchers contribute to Texas A&M University’s presence as a full-fledged research university.

Supporting Research through the Texas A&M Foundation

The Texas A&M Foundation accepts gifts for research conducted at Texas A&M University, TAEX, TEEX and/or TTI. “Gifts” in this context are defined by two factors:

• Private:
  The Texas A&M Foundation can receive gifts (or grants) only if they are from private individuals, corporations, foundations and organizations. Grants from federal, state and local government agencies are public grants and are made through the university.
  
  
• Non-contractual:
  The Texas A&M Foundation can receive gifts (or grants) only if they are non-contractual. This means that the donor does not require a written agreement and does not expect any tangible product or service as a result of the research.

The Texas A&M Foundation does not apply an overhead charge to research gifts, as does the university. The foundation does apply a one-time, five percent development fee to most gifts. However, the foundation returns one percent of the five percent fee to the generating college or agency to support its ongoing development activities.