The Undergraduate Senior 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 engineering or architectural 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, test 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 such as data acquisition systems or computers 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, including a summary of student involvement and actual fund expenditures. 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 as long as the project involves an ASHRAE-related topic. The faculty member(s) and student(s) responsible for the project are NOT required to be ASHRAE members or student members. The grant is made to the university solely for the support of the materials required for the project in an amount not to exceed $5,000 (U.S.) per calendar year per project. University overhead and faculty or student salaries will not be funded.

The faculty advisor(s) will submit the application to ASHRAE on behalf of the student or group of students completing the project. To be considered, ALL questions must be answered on the application, including a complete project description and a fund expenditures form (Click here for example.). Eight copies of the application (the original and 7 photocopies) must be received at ASHRAE Headquarters by December 1. (Click here for form.)

Applications will be evaluated based upon: ASHRAE related topics; adherence to guidelines; quality of the student experience; number of students participating; and appropriateness of funding request. Project titles from last year's successful applicants are available for viewing. (Click here for a list of projects funded in 2003.)

Applicants will receive notification of their application's status by March 1. An unaccepted project proposal may be revised and re-submitted for the following years. Funds will be available to the grant recipients on or after July 31. 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 the following year.

Direct questions and return grant applications to: