Competitive Grants to Support Learn by Doing

Baker and Koob Endowments

The Warren J. Baker Endowment for Excellence in Project-Based Learning and the Robert D. Koob Endowment for Student Success support hands-on, project-based learning opportunities for individual students and groups at Cal Poly. Because of their similar purpose, distributions of the two endowments will be pooled and used to fund multiple student projects via a competitive process that utilizes a single application.

Funds may be used for, but are not limited to, student support, student and faculty travel, student and faculty expenses associated with participation in student research, group projects, conferences, competitions, and equipment and materials related to student research.

The use of funds is not restricted to a specific major or college, but rather is intended to support multi-disciplinary, cross-college collaborative Learn by Doing activities. In addition, the Koob Endowment seeks to support students with financial need.

Who may apply

All Cal Poly undergraduate and graduate students are eligible to apply. Some restrictions apply:

• Applicants that have projects currently funded through an Instructionally Related Activity (IRA) from Academic Programs and Planning are not eligible.
• Applicants that have projects currently funded through another university endowment (e.g., CPConnect) are not elgibile.
• Only one project for an individual student or group will be funded in a given year.

All applications must name a faculty advisor and include a letter of support from this advisor.

How To Apply

To apply for funding, students must complete the Baker/Koob cover page and proposal and obtain a letter of support from the faculty advisor named in the proposal. Complete instructions and additional information is available in the Request for Proposals (PDF) file. 

The application period for the 2021-2022 Baker/Koob grants is now closed. 

Critical Documents

• Request for Proposals (PDF)
• Application Template Cover Sheet (docx)
• Application Template (docx)
• Final Report Template (docx)

2021-22 Baker/Koob Grants Faculty Review Committee

Name	Department
Ajay Kathuria	Industrial Technology & Packaging (OCOB)
David Kirby	Interdisciplinary Studies (CLA)
Sean C. Lema	Biological Sciences (CSM)
Jeff Ponitz	Architecture (CAED)
Gordon Rees	Natural Resources Management & Environmental Sciences (CAFES)
Tina Smilkstein	Electrical & Computer Engineering (CENG)