STATE UNIVERSITIES
SVSU Foundation raises $28M, creates more than 200 scholarships
The Saginaw Valley State University Foundation raised more than $28 million during the “Talent. Opportunity. Promise.” campaign, exceeding its $25 million goal and making it the largest fundraising effort in university history. The campaign resulted in a $5 million gift from the Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation to create the Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow STEM Scholars Network. The Dow Chemical Co. Foundation also awarded $2.7 million to establish the Dow Science and Sustainability Education Center. Other donations support the Vitito Global Leadership Institute, the Harvey Randall Wickes Endowed Chair in Nursing, and more. In addition, more than 200 new scholarships have been created to support students.
NMU to offer first Native American Studies major in Michigan
Beginning with the fall semester in 2016, Northern Michigan University will offer a Native American studies academic major. It is the first to offer this as a major in Michigan. Building upon a previously established minor, the new major will enhance relationships with tribal communities in Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota, and further acknowledge the important role that Native Americans play in the region’s history and culture.
Michigan Tech Department of Physics receives $2M gift
The Michigan Tech University Department of Physics received a $2 million donation to help establish the Elizabeth and Richard Henes Center for Quantum Phenomena. The center will bring together the academic community in order to address problems that can’t be explained by classical physics, investigating the interdisciplinary theme of the “quantum world.” Located in Fisher Hall, the gift will also help upgrade the building’s research facilities.
PEER INSTITUTIONS
NIH grant helps University of Chicago, Northwestern with HIV research
A five-year, $6.25 million grant from the National Institutes of Health will help researchers from the University of Chicago, Northwestern University, and others to stem the HIV epidemic. The funding supports the creation of the Third Coast Center for AIDS Research, a partnership between the University of Chicago, Northwestern, the Chicago Department of Public Health, the AIDS Foundation of Chicago, the Alliance of Chicago Community Health Systems, and the Center of Halsted. The program will offer services in different content areas of HIV research, including clinical sciences, behavioral, social and implementation sciences, viral pathogenesis, and developmental.
Penn Singh Center awarded $5M NSF grant for nanotechnology
The University of Pennsylvania’s Krishna P. Singh Center for Nanotechnology was awarded a five-year, $5 million grant from the National Science Foundation. The grant will establish the Mid-Atlantic Nanotechnology Hub for Research, Education, and Innovation. The program will host equipment to image or manipulate atomic and molecular-scale samples, bringing in outside researchers. It will also host educational programs to introduce students and locals to nanotechnology.
