Bafna Scholarship

Scholarship Purpose and Intent

The purpose of the scholarship shall be to attract high-caliber students entering the University to major in Industrial and Entrepreneurial Engineering or Engineering Management Technology by providing financial support. Preference shall be given to high-caliber students who demonstrate financial need.

Selection of recipients shall be determined by the Scholarship Committee of the Department of Industrial and Entrepreneurial Engineering and Engineering Management.

Award and Amount

The award is for $1,000 per year ($500 for fall and $500 for spring semester) for up to four years, totaling $4,000.

Once awarded, the scholarship shall continue up to four years provided the student remains as a full-time student in one of the two approved majors. It is the Donors’ desire that scholarship awards be given to incoming freshman students and then continue up to three additional years provided that the student maintains at least a 3.0 GPA, remains in good standing with the Dean of Students Office, and remains in one of the two approved majors. Exceptions may be made to the 3.0 GPA requirement in individual cases based upon judgement of the Department Chair.

Donor Biography

Dr. Kailash Bafna joined the faculty at Western Michigan University (WMU) as an Associate Professor in 1979 in the Department of Industrial Engineering. He was promoted to the rank of Professor in 1984 and, at the time of preparation of this gift agreement, he has completed 38 years on the faculty and has also served as a Department Chairman and an Assistant Dean in the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences. His wife, Vimla Bafna, joined the Registrar’s Office at WMU in 1982 on a part-time basis. In 1987, she became a full- time employee and has worked in Undergraduate Admissions, the Graduate College, and Customer Account Services. She retired in 2007 after 20 years of full-time service to WMU.