Mississippi State continues to reach new heights in sponsored research contracts and grants.

For the 1999-2000 fiscal year ending June 30, the university received a record $93.5 million in external research funding, a 30 percent increase from $71.8 million the previous year.

Dr. Robert A. Altenkirch, vice president for research, said the funding involves more than 1,300 sponsored projects at the university. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, United States departments of Agriculture, Defense, Education, and Health and Human Services, along with the National Science Foundation, were among the major funding agencies.

The $93.5 million in research support is in addition to $13.9 million in federal financial aid funds received at the university.

In addition to record-level research funding, Mississippi State recently was notified of several related achievements. Among others, they include:

—Inclusion in the 148 top tier national "doctoral/research extensive" universities as rated by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.

—Research totaling $26.4 million that elevated the college to 42nd on the American Society for Engineering Education list of national engineering colleges.

—A National Science Foundation ranking of 59th among public universities for total institutional research expenditures.