Posted on Sep 24, 1999

Recent major grants will have an impact on the College's

science and engineering equipment, International Studies, Chinese language

and building renovation.

The Kresge Foundation of

Michigan has awarded the College a $500,000 Kresge Science Initiative

grant for science and engineering equipment and for the establishment of

an endowment to maintain, upgrade and replace equipment. The grant

includes a challenge; the College must raise $1 million by December 2000,

for a total equipment endowment of $1.25 million.

Equipment to be acquired includes an open circuit wind

tunnel, fog generator and processor for use in civil and mechanical

engineering programs.

The Andrew W. Mellon

Foundation of New York City has awarded a $400,000 grant to Union and

Hobart and William Smith Colleges to support a cooperative international

studies program.

The award will enable the colleges to achieve

administrative efficiencies, enhance students' access to off-campus

programs, and increase professional development, research and

collaborative teaching.

The four-year grant will support 15 to 20 collaborative

off-campus programs. Possible joint programs include terms in Latin

America and the Caribbean, Europe, Africa, Asia and the Pacific.

The Sherman Fairchild

Foundation of Maryland has awarded a grant of $500,000 to support

first-level science course laboratory equipment. Administered over five

years, the grant will enable the College to replace, upgrade and add

equipment in its four laboratory-based science departments: biology,

chemistry, geology and physics. Purchases will include dissecting and

compound microscopes, telescopes and an ion chromatograph (which provides

detailed analysis of water quality).

The Henry Luce

Foundation of New York City has awarded a four-year grant of $271,104 in

support of East Asian Studies. The grant provides funds for the creation

of a tenure-track position in Chinese language, literature and culture as

well as $10,000 per year in program support. Megan Ferry has been hired as

the Luce assistant professor of Asian Studies.

The Fred L. Emerson

Foundation of Auburn, N.Y., has awarded $500,000 to support the

Union-Schenectady Initiative (USI), the College's plan to revitalize the

College Park neighborhood west of campus. The grant will support the

purchase, renovation and furnishing of a building in the USI area; network

communications and wiring; and an endowment for maintenance and upgrades.

Union will raise $1.5 million by November 2001.