yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) (12/22/89)
Terri Sindelar Headquarters, Washington, D.C. December 21, 1989 RELEASE: 89-184 NASA DESIGNATES 4 ADDITIONAL SPACE GRANT COLLEGES/CONSORTIA NASA today announced the selection of four additional universities and consortia as Designated Space Grant Colleges/Consortia in the National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program, bringing the total to 21. NASA Administrator Richard H. Truly said, "As a result of Congress appropriating additional funds to expand the Space Grant Program, NASA is now able to designate the remaining 4 qualified consortia from the original competition. I strongly believe the investment in these four new consortia will broaden geographic representation and nourish the growing aerospace education programs of the nation. In light of the President's recently announced space exploration initiative, this program will be key to attracting and developing future generations of the most talented engineers and space scientists." The four newly designated universities and consortia, listed in alphabetical order, are: University of Hawaii at Manoa, Iowa Space Grant College Consortium, New Mexico Space Grant Consortium, and Tennessee Valley Aerospace Consortium. In fiscal year 1990, the 21 designated Space Grant Colleges/Consortia each will receive up to $225,000 per year, for at least 5 years, and are expected to obtain, as a minimum, matching non-federal funds. In addition, these designated institutions will receive $100,000 funding from NASA to support fellowships for undergraduate and graduate students. The selection of the first 17 universities and consortia as Designated Space Grant Colleges/Consortia was announced Aug. 31, 1989. Selection was based on a competitive evaluation of the institutions' existing aerospace activities as well as the quality of their plans to strengthen the national educational base for science, math and technology. Designated Space Grant Colleges/Consortia will provide leadership and form partnerships with other universities, government and industry to better understand, develop and use space resources through research, education and public service functions. The National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program comprises three elements: (1) designation of Space Grant Colleges/Consortia which will provide for a national network of universities and colleges; (2) awards to support space grant programs at other institutions that will expand participation of colleges/universities/consortia that have not been as extensively involved in aeronautics and space research and education; and (3) space grant fellowships that will be made available to students at institutions selected in the first two elements. The first of the elements is the subject of this announcement. The second and third elements of the National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program will be initiated in fiscal year 1990. A complete list of Space Grant institutions can be obtained by phoning the NASA Headquarters Newsroom on XXX/YYY-ZZZZ.