September 12, 2003
Shimer College Awarded Five-year, $889,000, Grant from the U.S. Department of Education

The U.S. Department of Education has just announced that Shimer is the recipient of a five-year, highly competitive, Institutional Development Grant of $889,000. Shimer is one of 74 colleges awarded a grant out of the 307 eligible institutions that applied in 2003. The award year for the grant begins October 1, 2003.

The funds will be used to support three endeavors at Shimer, all aimed at expanding academic opportunities and enhancing student support.

The first of these is the establishment of a virtual library. The grant will finance the salary and benefits for a full-time academic librarian and the hardware and software required as well as access to varied digital academic library resources.

The second endeavor is the expansion of science laboratory capabilities at the College. The grant will finance the salary of a Laboratory Specialist, the building of a greenhouse for biology courses, the experimental equipment needed for full implementation of significant laboratory experience within the core courses, and the laboratory supplies and equipment needed for expanded offerings in physics, chemistry, biology, and environmental science.

The third is the establishment of an integrated, easily accessible database system that will provide increased student support within the financial aid office, the business office, the office of the registrar, and other offices of the College. It will also support the purchase of the necessary software for the system.