[sci.space] NASA designates 4 additional space grant colleges/consortia

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.