College of Science & Engineering Alumni Newsletter
Spring
2000
Today’s students need your help!
College of Science & Engineering Alumni Newsletter
Spring
2000
Today’s students need your help!
As alumni of the College of Science and Engineering, your support plays
a critical role in the College’s achievements and the success of its students.
The Student
Project Fund is a new College of Science and Engineering effort that
directly benefits our students. Just two semesters old, it was developed
to reimburse students for money they need to complete their research projects,
field work, or thesis work.
Helping students with the cost of completing their projects is a longstanding
need. Many of you may recall having to pay out of pocket the expenses related
to your own field work or research. That is because no money is allocated
in the College’s budget to support student projects. With the cost of living
in the Bay Area escalating annually, just making ends meet and paying for
their general education expenses is a growing challenge for many students.
The
Student Project Fund reimburses students up to $500 for their out of pocket
research project expenses, excluding airline tickets and food expenses.
Last semester students submitted proposals requesting support totaling
$16,000. We had funding to award grants totaling less than $5,000. This
semester students submitted proposals requesting support in the amount
of $18,000---again we had funding to award $4,100.
Among
those that received
support last semester were student projects that: investigated ways
to improve the quality of water at San Francisco’s Summit Reservoir on
Twin Peaks; studied whether algae might be effective in breaking down the
contaminant MTBE in water supplies; and controlled the valve train of internal
combustion engine through electrical techniques.
Funding
for the Student Project Fund comes from recent donors to the University’s
Annual Fund who earmarked their gifts for the College of Science and Engineering.
To
expand the scope of the fund and to assist our students in the pursuit
of their research work, we ask you to give generously to the College. Please
note that you are able to direct your gift to support the Student Project
Fund or the department or program of your choice. For more information
about College of Science & Engineernig Programs, alumni events, and
ways to support the College, please contact Lannie Nguyen-Tang, director
of alumni development, at 415/338-7662 or email science@sfsu.edu.
If
you recently received a letter from us asking you to support the Student
Project Fund and already have done so, please disregard this request and
accept our sincere thanks. The fund is so important to our students that
we don’t want to miss any opportunity to strengthen it.
Our
students are creative, hard-working, and filled with ideas. Please give
what you can today to assist them in completing a science and engineering
education that is hands-on, addresses real-world problems, and has the
potential to make an important difference in the world.
Thank you.
Other related link: COSE Student Project Showcase and Alumni Reception