Departments to participate in fundraising from alumni

The Board of Governors of IIT Kanpur has approved the creation of "Department Excellence Fund" in each department of the Institute.

Now any alumnus giving a gift to the Institute would have more options to specify for the use of his/her funds. Till now, an alumnus could specify the use of funds only if the gift was substantial, like setting up of a scholarship, or a chair, etc., or could contribute to the batch fund, or to a very small number of open campaigns at any point in time (like Prof. Sampath Chair). Most of the contributions went to the common pool of undesignated funds, which were used for excellence related projects across the Institute. Many alumni felt that an option to contribute to a specific department should be there, though one could still make an undesignated contribution to the Institute common pool.

This is also an attempt to involve departments in alumni relations. Departments typically have a closer and more personal contacts with alumni (through BTP/thesis supervisor, and other faculty members as well), and encouraging departments to use those contacts to build a strong relationship with alumni is certainly a need of the hour.

Whether this move will really bring alumni and institute closer, it will depend on both stake holders. If departments don't start reaching out to alumni to do fund-raising, alumni aren't going to designate their gifts for the departments. And if alumni continue to send their contributions to the common pool, departments won't feel encouraged to reach out to alumni. Some of us who have interacted with alumni in the past know how useful such interactions can be, not just for fund-raising but a large variety of support that these alumni can provide to us. And the Institute certainly understands that it needs to give this idea a strong push. And hence it has also promised to the departments that initial funds gifted by alumni to the Department Excellence Fund will be matched by the Institute (the time limit and money limit has not been specified, but still it is a good idea).

I strongly encourage all alumni to designate their gifts to the Institute for Department Excellence Fund of any department that they want to support.

Nominations Invited for alumni awards

 Here is an email (edited) that I received from IIT Kanpur Alumni Association:

As you know every year prestigious Distinguished Alumnus Awards and S K D Award are given to alumni for their exemplary services in their field. The Alumni Association is initiating the award process for this year. 

1. Distinguished Alumnus Award

We invite nominations for the Distinguished Alumnus Award (DAA), which is the highest award conferred by IIT Kanpur upon its alumni. This award is given in recognition of achievements of exceptional merit. The past DA awardees can be viewed at http://www.iitkalumni.org/daa/lastyearsDAA.asp. Nominations can be made by anyone including alumni, faculty of IITK, Head or an appropriate person of the organization where the concerned alumnus/alumna has been working.

Nominations can be made under the following categories  ;

(i) Entrepreneurship (ii) Management (iii) Professional Excellence (iv)Academic Achievements (v) any other activity that benefits humanity at large.

Self-nominations are discouraged. For more details please see: http://www.iitkalumni.org/daa/daamain.asp

2. Satyendra K Dubey Memorial Award

Nominations are also invited for Satyendra K. Dubey Memorial Award 2011-2012. Satyendra K. Dubey Memorial Award was instituted by IIT Kanpur in the memory of Mr. Satyendra K. Dubey (BT/CE/1994/IITK) and his exemplary life and supreme sacrifice. He sacrificed his life to uphold the integrity and dignity of his profession. Any alumnus / alumna / faculty member / staff member of any IIT can nominate any alumnus of any IIT for the award. The award will be given to one who has distinguished himself / herself by displaying highest professional integrity for upholding human values. For more details please visit:

http://www.iitkalumni.org/sda/lastyearSDA.asp

 

It is requested that nominations be accompanied by as much relevant material (in form of bio-data, Newspaper articles/profiles, information on other awards and commendations etc.) as is possible for the nominator to supply.

 

Nominations for the Distinguished Alumnus Award and the Satyendra K Dubey Memorial Award may be sent at the following address:

Secretary, Alumni Association
'69 & '80 Outreach Building
IIT Kanpur
Kanpur - 208 016
Email: alumni@iitk.ac.in and ks@iitk.ac.in

Or by filling online form at
http://www.iitkalumni.org/daa/nomination.asp
or http://www.iitkalumni.org/sda/nomination.asp

The last day for submitting the nominations is October 31, 2011.

A Student Commits Suicide at IIT Kanpur

Here is the communique we received from Director's office:


Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur deeply regrets to inform the tragic and untimely death of Mr. Mahtab Ahmed (Roll No. 11397), a first year student of B. Tech in the Department of Material Science and Engineering on September 22, 2011 at around 5:00 PM.

Mr. Mahtab Ahmed was born on June 18, 1994. He was a bright student and was quiet disciplined. Mr. Mahtab Ahmed hailed from Kannauj, Uttar Pradesh. He was staying in D-307, Hall 9 in the Institute.

The entire community of the Institute, comprising students, faculty and staff members is deeply aggrieved by the unfortunate death of a young and bright student of the Institute. The entire IIT Kanpur community is by the side of the parents and family members of the departed soul in this hour of grief and extends its heartfelt condolences.

We all pray to God Almighty for bestowing peace upon the departed soul and give courage to the bereaved family members for bearing this irreparable loss.

Update on 23rd Sep: Here are links sent by Pavan (In comments, they are not clickable, hence putting them here again):
facebook page of Mahtab where he suggests that he might not live long.
Another picture from facebook page of Mahtab

Distinguished Teacher Awards 2011

Like every year, we celebrated teachers day on 5th September. The following two faculty members were conferred the "Distinguished Teacher Award."

• Dr. Arvind Kumar Sinha, Department of HSS
• Dr. Swagto K. Ray, Department of Mathematics and Statistics