For years, the fellows of Radcliffe College's Bunting Institute made do with just three computers.

Famous among academics nationwide as a prestigious think tank for women scholars, the Bunting provided the three machines and only one laser printer for common use among its 40 visiting fellows. If a fellow wanted her own computer, she brought it or bought it.

The no-frills policy meant that most fellows received a stipend so small it couldn't even cover the cost of their research, let alone living expenses in pricey Cambridge.

But times have changed. Now that the Bunting and the rest of Radcliffe are officially a part of the world's richest university, it's time to go shopping.

Starting next year, the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study will meet the computer needs of every Bunting fellow. Even better, each of the 40 fellowships will be fully funded, more than doubling the number now covered.

With a new $350 million endowment, Radcliffe leaders say they're looking forward to long-sought expansions and the ability to attract top academic talent. The endowment, combined with aggressive new fundraising, will be the bedrock for the academic community Radcliffe has always wanted to build.

"It's fun to have extra money," says Rita N. Brock, the director of the Bunting Fellowship Program (as it has been called since the Oct. 1 merger). "It's fun to envision the future. This is much more interesting than fighting over every little dollar."

Scrimping and Saving