MEF Guide

Website: http://www.mef.uwaterloo.ca/

Beginning of the term

It's wise to start thinking about proposals at the start of term (or even before the term starts). The due date for proposals is typically 2.5 months into the term.

Writing up the proposal

• MEF seems to like us getting high-quality components from respectable vendors (e.g. HP).
• MEF wants us to do our research. This means that we should be able to clearly justify why we need exactly what we've asked for. In the past they have indicated that we didn't give enough explanation as to why we needed something.
• Make sure to justify how the project/request falls under MEF's mandate. Specifically, it should somehow benefit undergraduate education.
• Talk to MathSoc in advance about the proposal. The union of MathSoc and MEF is generally large, and they tend to hold sway on the MEF council.

What MEF likes to fund

• Textbooks; note that MEF doesn't like funding programming language manuals/guides (unless they are obscure/special).
• Talks; we need to have specific speakers lined up; we can't just ask for "$X for random speakers".
• Hardware; as long as we can justify the usefulness of the purchase, they generally seem open to fund it; here's some good reasons:
  • Existing hardware is failing (e.g. mirror, caffeine)
  • Existing hardware is inadequate (e.g. gigabit switch)

Presenting at the funding council meeting

• MEF wants professional presentations.
• Most people prepare slide shows and we should too, if possible.
• Holden should never present to MEF - he's far too sketchy.