The Frost Fund
Cal Poly alumnus William Frost and his wife, Linda, gave a CSU-record $110 million to Cal Poly’s Bailey College of Science and Mathematics. The gift is among the largest ever given to public higher education in California.
Vision
VisionThe Frosts envision transforming science and mathematics education at Cal Poly by greatly enhancing the resources for undergraduate research. Their gift has supported a new interdisciplinary research center, sponsors scholarships to attract top students, provides cutting-edge equipment, and increases the hiring of instructors, giving faculty members more time to mentor students researchers.
With these resources and the already strong undergraduate academic and research programs, the Bailey College of Science and Mathematics is well positioned to become one of the nation's premier institutions for undergraduate research.
Learn more about Frost Grant-Related Assigned Time and Grant Writing Programs
Undergraduate Research
Engaging in real-world research with faculty mentors is a powerful expression of Cal Poly's Learn by Doing approach. As students discover solutions to questions no one has answered yet, they develop their curiosity, imagination and critical thinking skills. Hands-on work in the lab requires innovation and collaboration, often across disciplines. In addition, the results of student-faculty research can make a difference in our communities and beyond.
Frost Summer Undergraduate Research Program
Our Frost Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) is an excellent way for students to get involved with faculty-mentored research. Each summer, 250-300 undergraduate students work 40 hours per week as part of the Frost SURP. This highly impactful program accelerates science through an immersive research experience with faculty mentors. Frost SURP also offers workshops, seminars, and activities for students outside their research group to further develop interests, refine skills, and build community.
The Frost Summer Undergraduate Research Program in the Bailey College is made possible through private donations and external grants, as students and faculty receive a stipend to participate. Frost SURP Scholars receive a $4,500 stipend for the summer, and faculty receive $1,500. Students with high financial need may be eligible for a supplemental summer award through the Bailey College Undergraduate Research Fund.
Student Presentations and Publications
Students take their experience out of the research lab into the professional world while still at Cal Poly. Many have the opportunity to present at regional, national and international conferences alongside professional scientists and mathematicians. They also share their results in campus seminars and student research conferences.
With their faculty mentors, students author and co-author peer-reviewed papers that appear in academic journals. By communicating their results to the scientific community, they not only understand their accomplishments more fully but also gain confidence and build a network of professional connections.
Cutting-Edge Facilities
The Bailey College is fortunate to have multiple modern facilities offering exceptional hands-on research, discovery and learning opportunities. The newest is the William and Linda Frost Center for Research and Innovation, which opened in May 2023. Located at the heart of campus with a truly striking presence, the Frost Center is a thoughtfully-designed interdisciplinary building, uniting three Cal Poly colleges under one roof. The four-story facility enables a new level of cross-disciplinary innovation and collaboration, including flexible and state-of-the- art teaching, laboratory, research and office spaces.
Much more than a building, the Frost Center is transforming students' Learn by Doing experiences and providing unprecedented opportunities for students and faculty to engage in real-world research, address the world’s most pressing concerns, or work with cutting-edge technologies and equipment that lead to creative solutions and discovery. More than 53% of Bailey College students engage in student-faculty research, and this facility provides the necessary space for this large amount of research activity to continue year-round.
Read Cal Poly Magazine article on the Frost Center.
Watch video titled Inside Look: Frost Center for Research and Innovation at Cal Poly.
The Frost Center complex complements the award-winning Warren J. Baker Center for Science and Mathematics, conveniently adjacent to each other. Both buildings exemplify Cal Poly’s practice of putting undergraduate students at the heart of real-world research.
The Frost Fund also allows the college to purchase state-of-the-art equipment to support undergraduate research and upper division courses. Student researchers at Cal Poly have access to advanced instrumentation rarely available to undergraduates. Examples include a liquid chromotography mass spectrometer for protein analysis, a DNA sequencer, a DXA machine to measure body composition (shown above) and a neutrino telescope to measure the universe’s highest-energy particles.
Frost Research Scholars
Continuing students with a demonstrated interest in and commitment to research are eligible to apply for a Frost Research Scholarship.The scholarship is typically awarded for two years, starting with a student’s third year at Cal Poly, with some exceptions. Scholarships are $10,000 per year with a guaranteed opportunity to participate in the Frost Summer Undergraduate Research Program, which comes with a $4,500 award. During the academic year, students commit to 10 hours of research per week via independent study units.
Frost Research Scholars are expected to participate in the Frost Summer Undergraduate Research Program, or in external summer research or internship opportunities, and to graduate in four years with immediate plans for graduate school, professional school or employment.
Learn more about the Frost Research Scholarships.
