Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some commonly asked questions and answers. If you have additional questions, please email us at team@nusolar.org and we will try to provide you with answers.
Students:
1. I am interested in joining. How can I join?
2. It is the middle of the year/quarter, is it too late to join?
3. How much of a time committment is the team?
4. Where does the team work on the car?
5. What can I do if I join the team?
Sponsors:
1. I am interested in sponsoring the team, who do I contact?
2. What benefits are there for sponsoring the team?
3. I can only provide in-kind donations, and not monetary support, can I still help?
4. I am helping to organize an event that I would like the team to participate in, how can I arrange this?
Q: I am interested in joining. How can I join?
A: Come to our kickoff meeting on Wednesday, September 24 at 7:00 p.m. in Tech L150. If you can't make the meeting, e-mail the team at team@nusolar.org to be added to the listserv. The listserv will announce the times and locations of all meetings and worksessions. Just show up to these meetings in order to participate!
Q: It is the middle of the year/quarter, is it too late to join?
A: It is never too late to join the team, and we can always use a few more hands and minds to help us with the project!
Q: How much of a time committment is the team?
A: It is up to you to decide how many work sessions to attend and how must of your time to put in. If you have a rough week and need the time to yourself, we understand that grades come first.
Q: Where does the team work on the car?
A: Our primary work space is the AutoBay in the Ford Design Center, and we also use various computer labs and other facilities.
Q: What can I do if I join the team?
A: Our members generally choose to work on one or two of our 3 teams; Operations, Research and Development, or Business. Tasks range from working with composites to building circuitry, putting a brake system together, or calling up sponsors and organizing media events. All of the work our team does is completed by undergraduate students, and even new members are given the opportunity to work directly on the car.
Q: I am interested in sponsoring the team, who do I contact?
A: If you would like to sponsor us please contact our Project Manager, Patrick Markan. Please contact him at 857-939-8238 or email him at pat@nusolar.org.
Q: What benefits are there for sponsoring the team?
A: There are many benefits to sponsoring our team, such as the promotion of your company on our vehicles during races and media events. These incentives are layed out very clearly in our sponsorship packet.
Q: I can only provide in-kind donations, and not monetary support, can I still help?
A: Of course. A huge portion of our sponsorship relies on in-kind, rather than cash donations. While we still need cash to handle small purchases, purchases for which we have no in-kind sponsorship, and race logistics, we are always appreciative of and in need of in-kind donations.
Q: I am helping to organize an event that I would like the team to participate in, how can I arrange this?
A: We are always open to opportunities and will participate in any event we feel will benefit the team and support alternative enery in the community. In order for us to bring our solar car for demonstration, we require a small reimbursement for travel costs. Please contact the team at team@nusolar.org with all available opportunities.
