Wichita State University students and faculty have a little more incentive this semester to start or complete research projects — or perhaps a lot of incentive.

John See, a former Boeing employee, made a gift of $1 million to WSU at the start of the year, to establish the John A. See Research Award.

WSU President John Bardo will appoint a committee to assemble periodically to review academic research on campus. The committee will decide the winner or winners of the award.

“I thought it was a good idea for the university,” See said. “To challenge the organization [and] key members of the university. It challenges them to think in terms of a new product.”

See came to his neighbor and WSU Foundation consultant Jim Rhatigan, former vice president of student affairs at Wichita State.

“He told me he would like to make a contribution to research or other scholarly activity that would reward outstanding faculty activity,” Rhatigan said. “He did not exclude students.”

Rhatigan said any kind of research could qualify for the award, making it the broadest award of its kind.

“It can be liberal arts, it can be music; it is a cross section of the university,” See said. “Anybody can involve themselves in what this scholarship provides.”

See said that not only do students or faculty have to generate the ideas, but also oversee its development to the end.

“He’s looking for research that has the potential to make a difference in peoples’ lives,” Rhatigan said.

The award’s first installment will be distributed this semester, Rhatigan said, once the committee meets to decide the winner. It will be about $40,000, he said.

“I’m hoping it will generate new ideas,” See said, “and cause people to think a bit.”