About Senior Undergraduate Project Grants

The ASHRAE Senior Undergraduate Project Grant Program provides grants to engineering, technical and architectural schools worldwide with the goal of increasing student knowledge, learning and awareness of the HVAC&R industry through the design and construction of senior projects. Grants are to be used to fund equipment and supplies for senior projects and 2-year technical school projects that focus on ASHRAE-related topics. Grants may cover projects lasting from one academic term up to one year.

Projects involving the building of working models, testing equipment, experimental teaching aids, and laboratory experiments are encouraged. Projects only involving data collection, computer modeling or computer programming will receive lower funding priority. Computer hardware will not be funded; however, computer software if utilized in conjunction with the above listed project is acceptable. When the project is complete, the student or group of students will submit a final report to ASHRAE. Additionally, full-year projects will require a mid-year progress report.

The grant application must be submitted by the faculty member(s) responsible for the project. The application may be made from any engineering, architecture, or engineering technology department; however, the project must involve an ASHRAE-related topic. The faculty member(s) and student(s) responsible for the project are NOT required to be members of ASHRAE. The grant is made to the university/college solely for the support of the materials required for the project in an amount not to exceed $5,000 (U.S.). University overhead and faculty or student salaries will not be funded.Funding from other sources is acceptable, but not required.

New for the 2009-2010 Grants Program : Judges will be inviting a team (out of those schools funded) to the 2010 Winter ASHRAE Winter Meeting to present their senior project.

The faculty advisor(s) will submit the application to ASHRAE on behalf of the student or group of students who are responsible for completing the project. To be considered, ALL questions must be answered on the electronic application, including a complete project description and a Fund Expenditures form.

Application
Please download the  Grant Application. Select the “save as” option, complete the application on your computer, and then return it electronically to tholman@ashrae.org in Microsoft Word format. Paper applications will not be accepted! The electronic submission must be received at ASHRAE Headquarters by December 15, 2008. Late or incomplete entries will not be accepted.New for 2009-2010: Be sure to include the University President and Department Head contact information on the applications. ASHRAE will send letters of recognition to such individuals of schools selected for grants.

Evaluation Process
Applications will be evaluated based upon:

• ASHRAE related topics (30%);
• Adherence to guidelines (15%);
• Quality of the student experience (20%);
• Number of students participating (15%);
• Appropriateness of funding request (10%);
• ASHRAE involvement (10%);
• Extra credit for sustainability (5%).

Project titles from last year's successful applicants are available for viewing on the ASHRAE Student Zone website under Grants.

Applicants will receive notification of their application's status by February 20, 2009. An unaccepted project proposal may be revised and re-submitted the following year. Funds will be available to the grant recipients on or after July 31, 2009(if your project won’t begin until after fall semester, you may receive your funds at a later date). Any funded project not completed (as indicated by non-receipt of a mid-year progress or final report) will result in the removal of the school from consideration for additional grants.

Direct questions and return grant applications to:
Tarra Holman
ASHRAE – Assistant Manager of Student Activities
1791 Tullie Circle NE/Atlanta, GA 30329-2305
Phone: 678-539-1212; Fax: 678-539-2212; E-mail: tholman@ashrae.org