bringing back FSAE at Binghamton University

[Bookhout]

Hey guys i was wondering what you everyone went through trying to get the program approved and how much your school helps you. I am trying to get the FSAE program back at BU for a Senior Design project. So far i think it is approved but the shool is butting heads with me on what is happening. It seems like they don't want us to sucssed. What did you guys go through and any words of advice for me would be great

[Bookhout]

Hey guys i was wondering what you everyone went through trying to get the program approved and how much your school helps you. I am trying to get the FSAE program back at BU for a Senior Design project. So far i think it is approved but the shool is butting heads with me on what is happening. It seems like they don't want us to sucssed. What did you guys go through and any words of advice for me would be great

[RiNaZ]

Did you guys use your baja car to convince the faculty/admin? Usually when you have a baja program up and running ... it takes half the effor to convince anyone that you can do a formula program.

[kwancho]

Hah, well, over the past 12 months, I've gone through the same thing. Everything we've gained felt like pulling teeth from the university. Best advice I can give is, every time you get frustrated, picture yourself sitting down in the finished car for the first time, firing it up, and blazing around some cone course. Works for me every time.

[Blake_DFSAE]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by RiNaZ:
Did you guys use your baja car to convince the faculty/admin? Usually when you have a baja program up and running ... it takes half the effor to convince anyone that you can do a formula program. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Our school would be more likely to encourage us to build a better Baja rather than start a new program.

[Bookhout]

We had a formula team last year but the school did not set up one for this year. So I took it upon myself to bring it back and right now we are pretty much all set up all we have to do is get sponsorships because the school does not give us any money at all. We will see though. Im going to competition this year just to watch and learn more for next year. We are only allowed 10 or so people. The rest are underclassmen and other majors and they get no credit so we will see how that works

[Korey Morris]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Bookhout:
...all we have to do is get sponsorships... </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

LOL Easier said than done...

[kwancho]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Bookhout:
We had a formula team last year but the school did not set up one for this year. So I took it upon myself to bring it back and right now we are pretty much all set up all we have to do is get sponsorships because the school does not give us any money at all. We will see though. Im going to competition this year just to watch and learn more for next year. We are only allowed 10 or so people. The rest are underclassmen and other majors and they get no credit so we will see how that works </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Man, we're almost all underclassmen, and none of us get credit.

[Ryan Boysen]

As far as proposing it to your school, I suggest proposing it to the school as marketing potential. School's are always looking for ways to recruit studnets, and having a formula car is a great way to do just that.

Our school didn't think we would succeed, being our first year as well, however, we quickley changed their ideas of that after gathering such a solid team, and having multiple fundraisers.

And as far as starting the car.. Why not just start building it, and then ask for campus approval? Our team had the chassis 3-D model before we even mentioned to the school that we wanted to start the project. As soon as we did, with a very good proposal package the college of technology granted us $5,000. In addition, if they deny you senior projects, that would be a shame, there is SO much potential on these cars to be used for projects, the falculty advisor would be a great person to take out for dinner and a few beers, if you know what I mean.

Sponsorships are few and far between, good luck finding them. We have only about 5 sponsors for our first year, but this will only be built upon.

GOOD LUCK!

[RiNaZ]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Blake_DFSAE:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by RiNaZ:
Did you guys use your baja car to convince the faculty/admin? Usually when you have a baja program up and running ... it takes half the effor to convince anyone that you can do a formula program. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Our school would be more likely to encourage us to build a better Baja rather than start a new program. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Would you guys be able to start a formula program w/out class credit? If you could, i'd do that.

Usually, you have to show the school something before you can ask for class credits.

[Blake_DFSAE]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by RiNaZ:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Blake_DFSAE:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by RiNaZ:
Did you guys use your baja car to convince the faculty/admin? Usually when you have a baja program up and running ... it takes half the effor to convince anyone that you can do a formula program. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Our school would be more likely to encourage us to build a better Baja rather than start a new program. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Would you guys be able to start a formula program w/out class credit? If you could, i'd do that.

Usually, you have to show the school something before you can ask for class credits. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

We're doing that now.

[UEraceguy]

We've had the same problem from the school in the past... We just keep pushing the topic, and improving. This is the first time we've competed in consecutive years, which is big thing for the Formula Car team at UE. We had to write a proposal over the summer and present it to them to convince them to support us.

Evansville FSAE

[Bookhout]

yeah we did that too I presented to the dean of engineering and now they are approving our budget but we don't get any support except try to keep the cost under 9000 dollars. so what ever it still should be a fun year

[UEraceguy]

Yeah, they limited our budget too. We ended up bypassing the school and did some fundraising on our own.

[Bookhout]

oh yeah we still have to do all our fundraising our selves its just we still can't spend over 9000 and they take 10% of everything that we fundraise. pretty stupid if you ask me

[Dr Claw]

Our school just doesnt like it when we recieve more than 5 thousand dollars from any given sponsor - thats why it's our max sponsorship bracket.

what part of "we are engineering/building a race car from scratch" dont schools understand? The fact that some schools can do it for under 9000 just blows my mind. We almost have that much in those blown engine and fragged dry sump georotor pictures that i posted a few weeks ago.. Nice going for those that can do it http://fsae.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif.

[ttk3]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Would you guys be able to start a formula program w/out class credit ? If you could, i'd do that.

Usually, you have to show the school something before you can ask for class credits. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>


Some of your schools give you credit for formula? Wow, that would be great.