Baker University receives $1.25 Million to Continue Biology Program Excellence

  • 07/03/19

BALDWIN CITY, KS – The Greater Kansas City Community Foundation, on behalf of an anonymous donor, gave $1.25 million to Baker University to fund biology and chemistry research, new technology for students and faculty, and an endowed professorship.

"This donation will provide Baker students with new state-of-the-art lab equipment and provide funding for independent research projects," says Dr. Erin Morris, chair of the Department of Biology and Chemistry. "This improved laboratory experience will make Baker students more competitive when applying for graduate programs, medical school, and biology and chemistry job."

A portion of the gift creates the Biology Research and Technology Fund to improve the research experience for biology students and faculty. The donation has provided for a field research van and mobile lab trailer, which will allow students to conduct vital field experiments. In June, students used the van and trailer during a two-week trip from Florida to Maine, researching the habitats and organisms found along the Atlantic Coast. Additional funds will be used to update costly laboratory equipment that familiarizes students with modern research techniques used in scientific research.

"Baker University is so grateful for the financial support and commitment of alumni and friends to the university who wish to enhance our students' experience," says Baker University President Dr. Lynne Murray.

The donation will also fund the Biology and Chemistry Student and Faculty Research Endowment that supports student and faculty research projects. The endowment will fund $1,000 grants to juniors who have declared biology or chemistry as their major. It will also fund the $300 research stipend provided to biology and chemistry students. The endowment will also fund grants of up to $1,000 for faculty in need of assistance with research and grant writing for projects involving students or assistants as collaborators.

A final portion of the gift will establish the Dr. Roger Boyd Professorship to attract educators who encourage excellence and challenge students to analyze issues affecting the environment. The Boyd family has been instrumental in developing and operating the Baker University Wetlands, a natural wildlife habitat in Lawrence, Kansas, since 1968, when the university obtained the land. The professorship will pay the salary and benefits for a biology professor as a means to continue Dr. Boyd's legacy in preservation and research.

To learn more, visit BakerU.edu.

About Baker University
Founded in 1858 as the first university in Kansas, Baker is a private institution that educates traditional and nontraditional students through small classes, innovative instructors, and rigorous course work. Fortune 500 CEOs, New York Times best-selling authors, and Super Bowl champions all proudly claim Baker as their alma mater. The university is home to four schools: College of Arts and Sciences, School of Nursing, School of Education, and School of Professional and Graduate Studies. Baker offers undergraduate through doctoral programs.

Featured

  • Greenheck Receives Sourcewell Cooperative Contract

    Air movement, control, conditioning, and distribution equipment solutions provider Greenheck recently announced that it has been awarded a Sourcewell cooperative purchasing contract, according to a news release. The HVAC Systems contract will allow Greenheck the opportunity to expand opportunities in government procurement and other public agencies in North America.

  • Boosting Student Wellness and Safety Through Indoor-Outdoor School Spaces

    Engaging students through facilities designed for indoor and outdoor learning and activities reflects a growing awareness of how children learn and thrive, with educators recognizing the importance of getting outside and disconnecting from technology. And, as today’s youth grapple with the urgent mental health crisis of increased anxiety and loneliness fueled by both the pandemic and technology, along with a related crisis in youth physical health, the wellness benefits of getting outside have never been so palpable.

  • Washington University School of Medicine Completes $165M Expansion Project

    The Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Mo., recently completed a vertical expansion of its Steven & Susan Lipstein BJC Institute of Health (BJCIH), according to a news release. The university partnered with Lawrence Group for the design of the six-floor addition, which cost about $165 million.

  • Fellowes Launches New Textile Collection

    Fellowes Contract Interiors recently partnered with Momentum Textiles & Wallcoverings to launch a new line of high-end-design, cost-effective textiles, according to a news release. Part of Momentum Textiles’ Kickstart collection, the new selection offers high-quality and versatile textiles for both smaller budgets and the early design phase of larger projects.