Schenectady, N. Y. (Oct. 14, 1999) – Union College has been awarded the following grants in support of numerous academic and institutional initiatives:
The Kresge Foundation of Michigan has awarded a $500,000 Kresge Science Initiative grant to Union 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.
The Sherman Fairchild Foundation of Maryland has awarded a $500,000 grant to the College to support first-level science course laboratory equipment. The grant, to be administered over five years, will enable Union to replace, upgrade and add equipment in its four laboratory-based science departments: biology, chemistry, geology, and physics.
The Fred L. Emerson Foundation, Inc. of Auburn, NY has awarded a $500,000 grant to Union College to support the Union Schenectady Initiative (USI), the College's broad-based plan to revitalize the neighborhood to the west of campus. The grant will support the purchase, renovation and furnishing of a building within the initiative area, known as College Park; network communications and wiring; and the creation of an endowment to be used for wiring upgrades and maintenance. The grant includes a challenge; the College must raise $1.5 million by November 2001. Of that amount, $750,000 will be used to establish communications linkages between the campus and the College Park neighborhood; the remaining will establish an endowment for wiring maintenance and upgrades. Following renovations, a home in College Park will be named Seward House, which will be used to house students.
The Henry Luce Foundation, Inc. of New York, NY has awarded a $271,104 grant to Union to support the East Asian Studies program. The grant, to be administered over four years, provides funds for the creation of a tenure-track position in Chinese language, literature and culture, as well as $10,000 each year in program support. Union has hired Megan Ferry as the Luce assistant professor of Asian Studies. Grant funds will be used for the development of Asia-focused modules for use in existing courses such as music, classics and art history, as well as the expansion of the College's East Asian library collections, including film, software, books and periodicals. In addition, the grant will help to expand the scope of activities and prominence on campus of Thurston House, a residence for students who have an interest in East Asian studies. Funds will help establish an informal study space in the house as well as sponsor campus and community outreach events.
The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation of New York City has awarded a $400,000 grant to Union College and Hobart and William Smith Colleges (HWS) to support a cooperative international studies program. The award, to be administered jointly, will enable the colleges to achieve administrative efficiencies, enhance students' access to off-campus programs, and increase professional development, research and collaborative teaching opportunities for faculty. The grant will be administered over a four-year project period and will support 15 – 20 collaborative off-campus programs. Possible joint programs include terms in Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe, Africa, Asia and the Pacific.
