Programs and Activities Supported by the College of Engineering Annual Fund:
Enhancing Student Opportunities to Excel
The Engineering Annual Fund is one of the few private sources of unrestricted funds available to Dean Ken Lutchen. It has brought him great satisfaction to use almost all of those monies to enhance student “quality of life” initiatives. This umbrella fund allows him to invest and stimulate a wide spectrum of specific programs and projects, including:
- The Summer Term Alumni Research Scholars (STARS) program which provides a housing allowance for full-time undergraduates who are hired by a faculty member to assist with that faculty member’s research program during the summer months.
- The Supplemental Undergraduate Research Funds (SURF) program which encourages faculty to involve undergraduates in their research program during the academic year by providing matching funds for undergraduate students who are working on faculty-sponsored research.
- The BU Chapter of “Engineers Without Borders” which is working to build “The Hummingbird House,” a community center providing a library, pharmacy, and art room to the village of Chirimoto, Peru. Learn more about the group at http://people.bu.edu/ewbexec/EWB-BU/Home.html
- The BU Nano-Satellite program is a joint program between the College of Engineering, Photonics, and the Center for Space Physics that funds teams of engineering undergraduates to design a nano-scale satellite that the Air Force will use.
- Several undergraduate clubs, including The BU Society of Women Engineers (SWE), The Minority Engineers Society (MES), the Students for the Advancement of Nanotechnology, and The Society of Hispanic Engineers (SHPE) have been able to send members to attend their national organization’s annual conference, providing opportunities for students to engage and network with professional engineers.
- The Excellence in Engineering Book Awards which provide a number of stipends to deserving students in need to be spent at the B.U. bookstore for textbooks or other academic course materials.
- BU Mini Baja Team which participated in the National Society of Automotive Engineers annual Mini Baja East competition. Students design and build a vehicle that competes in a race inspired by the annual Baja, CA four-wheeler race.
- BU Rocket Team whose members plan, design, construct, flight test and launch a rocket, helping to develop and test nascent engine technology.
- The BU Energy Club received support for their annual BU Energy Forum event, featuring leaders from industry, politics, and public policy in the clean energy area. The event allows student to interact with people directly shaping energy policy and technology.
- The College of Engineering Distinguished Faculty Fellow Award, is given to mid-level tenured faculty who are on a clear trajectory toward exemplary leadership careers in all dimensions of science and engineering and making significant contributions to their field. The five-year appointment includes funding to allow recipients to pursue high-impact research ideas swiftly.
- 2009/2010 Distinguished Faculty Winner: Professor Kamil Ekinci
- 2008/2009 Distinguished Faculty Winners: Associate Professors Mark Grinstaff (BME), Joyce Wong (BME) and Xin Zhang (ME)
- The BU FIRST (For Inspiration and Respect for Science and Technology) robotics team program, which provides space for and support to undergraduate engineering students who advise and assist the BU Academy FIRST team prepare for the annual competition. BU has hosted the Boston Regional FIRST competition the past three years at Agganis Arena.
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