The IEEE Canadian Foundation awards a number of IEEE McNaughton Learning Resource Centre Grants each year. The Foundation meets annually (see schedule) to consider applications.

Note: Applications must be complete and received by the posted deadline in order to be considered.

Purpose
These Centres are intended to enhance the learning experiences of IEEE student members at Canadian Universities and Colleges, as well as encouraging IEEE membership and activities, and interaction between the IEEE Student Branch and the local IEEE Section. Ted Glass (in 1979) created the first centre at the University of Manitoba in memory of General Andrew G. L. McNaughton, one of Canada's most distinguished electrical engineers.

Operation
The operation and maintenance of the Centre is the responsibility of the IEEE Student Branch, under the guidance of the Branch Counselor. The annual Student Branch activity report to IEEE Headquarters should include a detailed statement on the operation of the Centre. Copies should be sent to the IEEE Canadian Foundation and the SAC chair. Should the Centre cease to function, or in the event of dissolution of the Student Branch, title to any equipment supplied under these grants shall revert to the local IEEE Section for disposal at its discretion.

Financial Support
Funds are presently available from the IEEE Canadian Foundation to assist Canadian IEEE Student Branches to establish or improve these Centres. The Foundation is concerned that existing centres be upgraded on a regular basis to maintain their usefulness and thus encourages Branches to apply for "improvement" grants. The purchase of equipment, not normally supplied by the school, may be partially funded to a maximum level of 75%. The Foundation does not fund infrastructure costs (such as space, furniture, utilities, telephone, microwave ovens, refrigerators, coffee makers). Regular recurring costs are not funded by the Foundation (such as magazine subscriptions, equipment maintenance plans, software license renewals).

Grant Application
Prior to applying, the Student Branch should identify the future location of the Centre, and raise (or develop a plan to raise) at least 25 percent of the overall anticipated cost of the project.

The application must be accompanied by (three) letters of support from the Branch Counselor, the Department Chair, and the Dean of Engineering. These must contain a clear commitment to providing long term support for the continuing existence of the Centre.

The application should be complete, well documented, clearly presented and include:

• an executive summary that clearly identifies your grant request in $ to the Foundation, amounts and sources of other funds, and what you will do if you receive the grant,
• a statement of purpose and expected benefits to the student members,
• a list of required equipment, with clear statements of intended use for each item,
• a financial plan showing exactly where all monies will come from, and where and when they will be expended,
• information on long-term plans for Centre operation,
• a plan for equipment maintenance and site security,
• and the three letters of support.
• Where computers are involved, include clear statements regarding ownership of software, incuding applicable site licences.
• If the application is for an upgrade of an existing Centre, provide a complete history of the Centre (including previous Grants and their use), a description of the existing facilities and their current use, as well as the plan to integrate use of proposed and existing equipment.

Submission
The application and the three letters of support are to be submitted on-line. The deadline for receipt of all four forms (application and the three letters) by the Grants Committee is November 15. To apply, use the "applications and nominations" link on the left side of this page

Reimbursement for Expenditures
If your application is successful, you will receive notification from the Foundation - usually an informal reply via e-mail followed by a formal letter. You will not receive any money up front. You have up to two years (from the date of the formal letter of notification) to submit receipts and obtain reimbursement. Send receipts, which are consistent with the grant application you submitted and any conditions contained in the formal grant notification letter, to the Foundation Treasurer. Use the address in the preceeding paragraph. The quicker you send these receipts, the quicker you will receive reimbursement. You can ask for reimbursement in stages as you make your purchases. Normally the Foundation will not consider a new grant application if a previous grant has not been spent and closed out.

Report
All grant recipients are required to submit a report as a condition of accepting the grant - details.

More Information
For more information about submitting, please e-mail grants@ieeecanadianfoundation.org
For more information about reimbursement, please e-mail treasurer@ieeecanadianfoundation.org