The Schaefer School of Engineering and Science (SES) recently launched a new initiative for undergraduates (UG), the “SES UG Student Group Conference Travel Fund,” designed to support interdisciplinary Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) in attending conferences. This initiative, developed with the help of the SES Dean’s Undergraduate Student Advisory Council (DUSAC), marks a significant step in fostering collaboration and providing financial assistance to student groups within the school.
The Stute spoke with Dakota Van Deursen, Assistant Director โ Core Engineering and Science Education, and Frank Fisher, Professor and Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies in the Schaefer School of Engineering and Science, to learn more about this new program.
The SES UG Student Group Conference Travel Fund is distinct in its focus on providing financial support to interdisciplinary RSOs attending conferences as a group. Unlike traditional departmental funding, typically available for specific student groups aligned with certain departments, this new fund targets organizations that draw members from multiple disciplines across SES. Van Deursen emphasized the need for a streamlined and transparent process for these groups to apply for conference travel funding. The initiative is not meant for individual students or non-conference travel, ensuring the funds are directed toward collective experiences that enhance academic and professional development.
The fund’s creation addressed a long-standing issue for interdisciplinary RSOs that previously needed a precise mechanism for requesting financial assistance for conference travel. These groups often had to navigate complicated processes or rely on limited departmental support, which only sometimes suited their needs. By establishing the SES UG Student Group Conference Travel Fund, the school aims to provide fairness and transparency, ensuring deserving RSOs can access the support they need to attend conferences that benefit their members and, by extension, the broader SES community.
Ethan Kleschinsky, a former Student Government Association (SGA) Vice President of Student Interests, and Jared Donnelly, a former SGA Vice President for Academic Affairs, proposed the idea during a Dean’s Advisory Council (DAC) meeting in the fall of 2023. Following internal discussions and feedback from DUSAC, a proposal was outlined and refined over several meetings, with valuable input from Kleschinsky, Donnelly, and others, including current SGA Vice President of Finance, Kevin Pfundstein โ a group representing both DUSAC and SGA. The plan received approval for a Fall 2024 rollout.
Currently, eight interdisciplinary RSOs have been “pre-qualified” to apply for funding because they fit the interdisciplinary nature this program is addressing, including:
- National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE)
- Out in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (oSTEM)
- Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers (SASE)
- Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)
- Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE)
- Society of Women Engineers (SWE)
- Stevens Robotics Club (SRC)
- Stevens Women in Computer Science (SWiCS)
To be eligible for this funding, RSOs must first receive SGA funding and then apply to a review board of SES administrators that will approve or deny the funding request. While the eight RSOs listed above are pre-recognized, any RSO that falls within SES but not a particular department may apply. Since the program’s launch, four RSOs have applied and received funding for 109 students. Of these, funding for 108 students was approved, highlighting the initiative’s immediate impact.
The SES UG Student Group Conference Travel Fund represents a collaborative effort between SES, DUSAC, and the SGA. According to Van Deursen, the program’s success thus far demonstrates the value of having a structured advisory body to bridge communication between students and administration. The initiative also reflects SES’s commitment to creating an inclusive environment where interdisciplinary collaboration is supported and celebrated.
The feedback-driven approach that led to the fund’s creation underscores the importance of student advisory boards. As part of the ongoing effort to enhance the student experience, SES will continue to evaluate the program and explore additional ways to support RSOs, ensuring that students have access to the resources they need to excel academically and professionally. With the program’s already positive results, it is expected to continue to evolve and expand in the coming semesters.
