Making Ideas Possible: The USC Grant Fund

If there’s one thing university students are known for, it’s constantly coming up with great ideas. Companies like Facebook, Nike, and DoorDash all trace their roots to a university campus.

Unfortunately, university students are also known for having very little money. With great ideas but limited funds, student projects often die in the brainstorming phase. 

The University Students’ Council (USC) is committed to breaking down this financial barrier. With $110,000 in annual grants and awards, the USC aims to provide the funding needed to get student projects off the ground.

Overseeing the USC Grant Fund is Alex Baier, the USC’s Grants and Recognition Coordinator. Every application passes through a screening process where Baier helps determine which student groups need funding most urgently.

According to Baier, Western’s cultural clubs take home a sizable portion of grants.

“These clubs are often hosting huge events with over a hundred attendees,” Baier explained. “It’s really rewarding to see—it feels like we’re helping to build cultural communities.”

But cultural clubs aren’t the only recipients. This year, one of the top funded clubs was Western Formula Racing (WFR), a team of students who design and build a fully functioning electric racecar to compete in international Formula SAE competitions.

Each June, WFR competes against engineering teams from schools around the globe. To prepare, they rely on experience gained from smaller tournaments. One example is the Formula Hybrid competition in New Hampshire—but there’s a catch. The registration fee is $4,000.

Without help, New Hampshire was out of reach for WFR. That meant losing critical competition experience—and, for many junior members, losing the chance to compete at all, since the international tournament’s strict roster limits leave room only for senior members.

A grant from the USC changed everything. With just a short application, WFR secured the funding needed to compete in New Hampshire.

Do you also have big ideas but small funds? Apply to the USC Grant Fund this year, and watch the application tips video to get started. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis from mid-September until March.

Baier, who helped simplify this year’s application process, offers a final piece of advice. With a shortened application that can be completed in under an hour, he says there’s little reason to hesitate:

“If you’re on the fence about applying—just do it. There’s absolutely no reason not to.”