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Faculty & Student Standards Research Grants
ANSI Essential Requirements: Due Process Requirements for American National Standards
Saugatuck High School | Allegan County Michigan @ Detroit Institute of Arts | Michigan West
The American voluntary consensus standards system depends upon the steady participation of universities. To encourage that participation, many standards developers offer research grants, scholarships, travel stipends, student paper competitions, and postgraduate fellowships for faculty members, graduate students, and emerging professionals.
These programs help offset the costs of research, conference attendance, committee meetings, and publication while introducing new generations of scholars to the consensus process.
The investment benefits both the standards community and higher education. Universities contribute fresh research, analytical methods, and technical expertise, while students gain firsthand experience with the development of engineering, scientific, accounting, safety, and building standards that influence practice throughout the world.
Student Research Grants, Scholarships & Travel Support
ANSI — Student Paper Competition, standards education programs, internships, university outreach, and free standards-related learning resources. (From Classrooms to Competitions: How ANSI and its Members are Opening Standards to Students)
ASTM International — Academic Outreach Program featuring student memberships, scholarships, research grants, travel assistance, student chapters, and opportunities to participate directly in standards committees. (Student Members)
ASHRAE — Society scholarships, Graduate Student Grant-in-Aid research awards, undergraduate equipment grants, and conference travel assistance.
ASCE — Undergraduate and graduate scholarships, Student Chapter awards, and discipline-specific fellowships.
ASME — Scholarships and fellowships through the ASME Foundation together with student paper competitions and travel assistance.
IEEE — Scholarships, fellowships, travel grants, Foundation awards, and Society-sponsored student programs. Most grants originate at the society, region and section level. Example: Education & Healthcare Facilities
ICC — Student chapters, scholarships, educational partnerships, and workforce development initiatives.
NFPA Research Foundation — Sponsored university research and academic partnerships advancing fire, electrical, and life safety.
NIST — Graduate student research opportunities, laboratory collaborations, and financial assistance for visiting scientists.
(Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship) | Summer 2026 Abstract Book
(Professional Research Experience Program)
(Summer High School Intern Program)
(Measurement Science and Engineering MSE Research Grant Programs)
(Standards Curricula Development Program 2026 (Application Deadline July 13, 2026)
SAE International — Engineering scholarships supporting students in automotive, aerospace, manufacturing, and mobility disciplines.
FASB / GASB — The Postgraduate Technical Assistant Program and the Gilbert W. Crain Memorial Research Grant support the next generation of accounting standards professionals.
Relata:
Evaluation of Electrical Feeder and Branch Circuit Loading: Phase I (January 2017)
Image Credit: Michael Tompsett
International Standards Development Opportunities
| Organization | Opportunity |
|---|---|
| ISO | ISO Young Professionals Programme — Annual leadership and standards development program sponsored through ISO member bodies. |
| ISO | ISO DEVCO — Capacity-building initiatives, technical assistance, education, and participation support for developing countries. |
| IEC | IEC Young Professionals Programme — International leadership development and participation in electrotechnical standards activities. |
| IEC | IEC Academy — Standards education, webinars, technical training, and professional development resources. |
| ITU | ITU Academia Programme — Membership and engagement opportunities for universities participating in international telecommunications standards development. |
| ITU | ITU Fellowships Programme — Travel assistance and fellowships enabling qualified participants to attend ITU standards meetings and conferences. |
| ITU-R | ITU-R Fellowships — Support for participation in Radiocommunication Sector meetings and technical study groups. |
Schenkingen
“The secret of great fortunes without apparent cause
is a crime forgotten, for it was properly done.”
CASE FAQ for Standards: Definition of Educational Philanthropy
Are they hedge funds with a side hustle in teaching, research and building construction? Are they tricked out memorial gardens for philanthropists? In either case leaders of educational settlements are expected to act in the best interests of both their institution and their donors, and to maintain high standards of transparency, accountability, and ethical conduct when accepting charitable gifts.
University endowments are comprised of money or other financial assets that are donated to academic institutions. Charitable donations are the primary source of funds for endowments. Endowment funds support the teaching, research, and public service missions of colleges and universities.
In the case of endowment funds for academic institutions, the income generated is intended to finance a portion of the operating or capital requirements of the institution. In addition to a general university endowment fund, institutions may also maintain a number of restricted endowments that are intended to fund specific areas within the institution, including professorships, scholarships, and fellowships.
More
2021 NACUBO-TIAA Study of Endowments
University of Michigan: Policy Guidelines for Naming of Facilities, Spaces and Streets
Dartmouth University Endowment Report 2023
https://www.dartmouth.edu/investments/docs/dartmouthendowmentreport2023.pdf
The largest philanthropic gift ever given to a United States college or university is the donation of $9.6 billion made by MacKenzie Scott to various organizations, including several universities, in 2020. Scott, the ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, made the donation as part of her commitment to give away the majority of her wealth to charitable causes. The universities that received donations from Scott include historically black colleges and universities, community colleges, and research universities such as the University of California, San Diego, and Johns Hopkins University. The donation was considered significant not only for its size but also for its focus on supporting organizations that serve underrepresented and marginalized communities.
There are several standards and best practices that are generally followed by universities and colleges when accepting charitable gifts. These standards are designed to ensure that the gift is used effectively and that the interests of both the donor and the institution are protected. Some of the key standards include:
- Transparency and accountability: Universities and colleges are expected to be transparent about how gifts are used and to provide regular reports to donors on the impact of their gifts.
- Due diligence: Universities and colleges are expected to conduct due diligence on potential donors to ensure that their gifts do not create conflicts of interest or ethical concerns.
- Gift acceptance policies: Many universities and colleges have established gift acceptance policies that outline the types of gifts that will be accepted and the procedures for accepting them.
- Donor recognition: Universities and colleges are expected to recognize donors in an appropriate and meaningful way, while avoiding actions that could be seen as an endorsement of the donor’s business or political interests.
- Ethical fundraising: Universities and colleges are expected to follow ethical fundraising practices, including avoiding pressure tactics or misleading information, and ensuring that donors are aware of any tax implications of their gifts.
Overall, universities and colleges are expected to act in the best interests of both their institution and their donors, and to maintain high standards of transparency, accountability, and ethical conduct when accepting charitable gifts.
Crain Memorial Research Grant
The GASB awards research grants of up to $10,000 each for projects undertaken by graduate students that inform its standard-setting activities. The award honors Gilbert W. Crain whose work helped establish governmental accounting as a rigorous academic discipline. The typical application cycle has proposals due at the end of May, with awards announced about a month later before a new cycle resumes.
Gilbert W. Crain Memorial Research Grant
Topics of current interest include:
- Digital assets
- Digital financial reporting
- Environmental credits
- GAAP utilization
- Fund balance
- Essentiality of note disclosures
- Other projects on the GASB technical agenda.
Related:
The joint FASB/GASB Postgraduate Technical Assistant Program places outstanding graduate accounting students with the Boards for a year, where they participate directly in standards development and research—a remarkable pathway into the accounting standards profession.
Endowment Standards
Relata:
Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act
Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Guidelines: Topic 958
Ryan Fieldhouse
Northwestern University Facilities
— Standards Michigan (@StandardsMich) April 10, 2026
There was a time when college buildings were most often named for scholars, presidents, and teachers whose lives were devoted to advancing knowledge. Their names reminded students that universities exist first to discover, preserve, and transmit learning.
Today, many new buildings bear the names of benefactors whose generosity made their construction possible. Modern research laboratories, residence halls, performing arts centers, and athletic facilities often require gifts measured in the tens or hundreds of millions of dollars. The name recognizes not only financial support but also a lasting commitment to the institution’s future.
Neither tradition is without merit. One honors intellectual achievement. The other honors stewardship. Together they tell the story of how universities endure: ideas require both those who create them and those who provide the means for them to flourish.
Perhaps the question is not whether a building should bear the name of a scholar or a donor, but whether its name reminds future generations why the institution was built in the first place.
Tax-Free Bonds
Current Referenda | Ballotpedia
As the adage goes: “The cure for high prices, is high prices”. Today–ahead of the August primary elections in the United States (when bond referenda appear on ballots — we explore fiscal runaway with particular interest in the instruments that finance construction of the real assets. We recap what we have been doing for 30-odd years placing downward pressure on life-cycle cost.
Perspective:
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- The largest school bond referendum on ballots in November 2025 is the $1.4 billion package for Richardson Independent School District (ISD) in Texas.
- University of Michigan’s 2025 $2 billion general revenue bonds
- New York University’s 2025 $2.18 billion bonds through the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York
- The largest school bond referendum on ballots in November 2024 was Measure US for the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) in California, totaling $9 billion.
- In the November 2022 elections, a significant number of school bond referenda were presented to voters across the United States. For example, in Wisconsin alone, there were 57 successful capital referenda amounting to nearly $2.1 billion in authorized debt (Wisconsin Policy Forum)
- In Texas, Central Texas schools had a total of $4.24 billion in bonds on the ballot, covering various propositions for school facilities, technology improvements, and athletic facilities (Fox 7 Austin)
- In California and Arkansas, bond measures totaling $74 million — including school choice — were aimed at addressing school facility improvements (The74Million)
- Voters in 16 North Carolina counties approved bond issues totaling $4.27 billion, with $3.08 billion dedicated to K-12 public school construction and improvements (EducationNC)
“The cure for high prices, is high prices” — They say.
Today we explore fiscal runaway in the US education “industry” with particular interest in the financing instruments for building the real assets that are the beating heart of culture in neighborhoods, cities, counties and states. We steer clear of social and political issues. The marketing of these projects — and how the loans are paid off — provides insight into the costs and benefits of this $100+ billion industry; the largest non-residential building construction market in the United States.
We cannot do much to stop the hyperbolically rising cost of administrative functionaries but we can force the incumbents we describe in our ABOUT to work a little harder to reduce un-used (or un-useable) space and reduce maintenance cost. Sometimes simple questions result in obvious answers that result in significant savings.
More recently hybrid teaching and learning space, owing the the circumstances of the pandemic, opens new possibilities for placing downward pressure on cost.
Regulation or Money-Laundering?
Every school building begins twice: first in the bond market, and later on the construction site. After Architect-Engineers and Building Construction Contractors (many of whom finance election advocacy enterprises) the following organizations are involved in placing a bond on the open market:
- School Districts: Individual school districts issue bonds to fund construction or renovation of school facilities, purchase equipment, or cover other educational expenses. Each school district is responsible for managing its own bond issuances.
- Colleges and Universities: Higher education institutions, such as universities and colleges, issue bonds to finance campus expansions, construction of new academic buildings, dormitories, research facilities, and other capital projects.
- State-Level Agencies: Many states have agencies responsible for overseeing and coordinating bond issuances for schools and universities. These agencies may facilitate bond sales, help ensure compliance with state regulations, and provide financial assistance to educational institutions.
- Municipal Finance Authorities: Municipal finance authorities at the state or local level often play a role in facilitating bond transactions for educational entities. They may act as intermediaries in the bond issuance process.
- Investment Banks and Underwriters: Investment banks and underwriters assist educational institutions in structuring and selling their bonds to investors. They help determine bond terms, market the bonds, and manage the offering.
- Bond Counsel: Bond counsel, typically law firms, provide legal advice to educational institutions on bond issuances. They help ensure that the bond issuance complies with all legal requirements and regulations.
- Rating Agencies: Rating agencies, such as Moody’s, Standard & Poor’s, and Fitch Ratings, assess the creditworthiness of the bonds and assign credit ratings. These ratings influence the interest rates at which the bonds can be issued.
- Investors: Various institutional and individual investors, including mutual funds, pension funds, and individual bond buyers, purchase school and university bonds as part of their investment portfolios.
- Financial Advisors: Financial advisory firms provide guidance to educational institutions on bond issuances, helping them make informed financial decisions related to borrowing and debt management.
- Regulatory Authorities: Federal and state regulatory authorities, such as the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and state-specific agencies, oversee and regulate the issuance of bonds to ensure compliance with securities laws and financial regulations.
These organizations collectively contribute to the process of issuing, selling, and managing school and university bonds in the United States, allowing educational institutions to raise the necessary funds for their capital projects and operations. The specific entities involved may vary depending on the size and location of the educational institution and the nature of the bond issuance.
Bond issuances affect local property values.
Current Projects
We track action in the catalog of this consortia standards developer because we continually seek ways to avoid spending a dollar to save a dime; characteristic of an industry that is a culture more than it is a business.
Compensation—Retirement Benefits—Defined Benefit Plans | Comments due: August 10, 2026
While not an ANSI accredited the FASB/GASB standards setting enterprise’s due process requirements (balance, open-ness, appeal, etc.)* are “ANSI-like” and widely referenced in education enterprise management best practice. Recent action in its best practice bibliography is listed below
ACCOUNTING STANDARDS UPDATES ISSUED
For obvious reasons, we have an interest in its titles relevant to Not-For-Profit Entities
WHAT IS THE FASB NOT-FOR-PROFIT ENTITY TEAM
Inside the latest PCC meeting: a closer look at what’s shaping the Council’s current priorities. 🎥 Watch the update: https://t.co/VZ02TZwcVu
— FASB, GASB, and FAF (@FAFNorwalk) October 28, 2025
At present the non-profit titles are stable with the 2020 revision. That does not mean there is not work than can be done. Faculty and students may be interested in the FASG program linked below:
Also, the “Accounting for Environmental Credit Programs”, last updated in January, may interest colleges and universities with energy and sustainability curricula. You may track progress at the link below:
EXPOSURE DOCUMENTS OPEN FOR COMMENT
The Battle about Money
We encourage our colleagues to communicate directly with the FASB on any issue (Click here). Other titles in the FASB/GASB best practice bibliography are a standing item on our Finance colloquia; open to everyone. Use the login credentials at the upper right of our home page.
Issue: [15-190]
Category: Finance, Administration & Management, Facility Asset Management
Colleagues: Mike Anthony, Jack Janveja, Richard Robben
What do you think: Do investors need a clearer picture of non-financial donations made to not-for-profits?#FASB needs your feedback to help help the Board determine how to move forward. Share your thoughts by April 10.#giftsinkind #charitablegivinghttps://t.co/MBMhEOFUlE pic.twitter.com/o4pdMC0yXq
— FASB, GASB, and FAF (@FAFNorwalk) March 31, 2020
Educational Settlement Finance
Giovanni Paolo Panini, An architectural capriccio with figures among Roman ruins
The post-pandemic #WiseCampus transformation requires significant capital to meet the sustainability goals of its leadership. Campuses are cities-within-cities and are, to a fair degree, financed in a similar fashion. Tax-free bonds are an effective instrument for school districts, colleges and universities — and the host community in which they are nested — for raising capital for infrastructure projects while also providing investors with, say $10,000 to $100,000, to allocate toward a tax-free dividend income stream that produces a return in the range of 2 to 8 percent annually.
An aging population may be receptive to investment opportunities that protect their retirement savings from taxation.
Curious about the municipal bond market? Check out the MSRB’s new resource “Municipal Market Basics” to start your journey through the MSRB’s newly updated Education Center: https://t.co/BIMBxWpKGkhttps://t.co/PLhtaXzdD9 pic.twitter.com/FVARkkYZAD
— MSRB (@MSRB_News) November 28, 2023
Once a month, we walk through the prospectuses of one or two bond offerings of school districts, colleges and universities and examine offering specifics regarding infrastructure construction, operations and maintenance. We pay particular attention to details regarding “continuing operations”. Somehow the education industry has to pay for its green agenda. See our CALENDAR for the next Finance colloquium; open to everyone.
The interactive map provided by Electronic Municipal Market Access identifies state-by-state listings of tax-free bonds that contribute to the construction and operation of education facilities; some of which involved university-affiliated medical research and healthcare delivery enterprises.
CLICK ON IMAGE FOR INTERACTIVE MAP
If you need help cutting through this list please feel free to click in any day at 11 AM Eastern time. Use the login credentials at the upper right of our hope page. We collaborate with subject matter experts at Municipal Analytics and UBS.
Issue: [Various]
Category: Administration & Management, Finance, #SmartCampus
Colleagues: Mike Anthony, John Kaczor, Liberty Ziegahn
*We see the pandemic as a driver for a step-reduction in cost in all dimensions of education communities. We coined the term with a hashtag about two years ago.
*College and university infrastructure projects are classified with public school districts under the rubric “municipal bonds” at the moment. CLICK HERE for more information.
Good question. pic.twitter.com/FtW0eSaQs7
— Thomas Sowell Quotes (@ThomasSowell) January 27, 2025
More:
Duke Law Review: Don’t ‘Screw Joe the Plummer’: The Sausage-Making of Financial Reform
School Bonds Michigan
History of One Room Schools | Central Michigan University
School Construction Bonds Confirmed for August 2026 Election Referenda
| School District | Amount | Election Date |
|---|---|---|
| Harper Creek Community Schools (Calhoun County, MI) | $28,000,000 | Aug 4, 2026 |
| Homer Community School District (Calhoun County, MI) | $11,920,000 | Aug 4, 2026 |
For reasons that may be obvious, construction companies make markets with their public relation enterprises.
Why the 10-Year Treasury Note Matters to School Bonds
The yield on the U.S. 10-year Treasury note is the principal benchmark for long-term borrowing throughout the American economy, including the municipal bond market that finances schools, colleges, and universities. When Treasury yields rise, investors generally expect higher returns from tax-exempt school bonds as well. To attract buyers, educational institutions must offer higher interest rates, increasing the cost of financing new classrooms, laboratories, residence halls, athletic facilities, and utility infrastructure.
Conversely, when 10-year Treasury yields decline, borrowing costs often ease, enabling school districts and universities to finance capital improvements at lower interest expense and reducing the long-term burden on taxpayers or tuition revenue. Although the final interest rate on any bond issue also reflects the issuer’s credit quality, market demand, insurance, and overall economic conditions, daily movements in the 10-year Treasury yield remain one of the most closely watched indicators of the direction and relative cost of educational facility financing.
As a rule of thumb, every 0.25 percentage point (25 basis point) increase in the borrowing rate adds about $25,000 per year in interest for every $10 million of outstanding principal.
Albert Kahn detail at the Alexander G. Ruthven Building at the University of Michigan
New update alert! The 2022 update to the Trademark Assignment Dataset is now available online. Find 1.29 million trademark assignments, involving 2.28 million unique trademark properties issued by the USPTO between March 1952 and January 2023: https://t.co/njrDAbSpwB pic.twitter.com/GkAXrHoQ9T
— USPTO (@uspto) July 13, 2023
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