WSU partners with 3 Michigan universities to increase minority graduates in engineering
Wayne State University will offer a new summer program for incoming pre-engineering freshmen as part of a new four Michigan university alliance to address the under-representation of minorities earning bachelor's degrees in science, technology, engineering and math.
The "Engineering Pre-First Year" (EPFY) program at the WSU College of Engineering, and those designed by the other alliance partners - Michigan State, University of Michigan, and Western Michigan - are part of an effort by these universities to boost the graduation levels of African-Americans, Native Americans and Hispanics by 50 percent in 5 years.
The partner universities will announce their new partnership in the Michigan-Louis Stokes alliance for Minority Participation (MI-LSAMP) program at a kickoff event at the U-M Detroit Center, Monday, Jan. 23.
The MI-LSAMP is a five-year, $2.5 million program funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) to the four alliance partners. Wayne State will receive $100,000 annually for the next five years.
Wayne State's new program, along with those already in place, will strengthen Wayne State's role of increasing the diversity and numbers of Michiganians from all communities going into high tech fields, said WSU President Irvin D. Reid. "Wayne State University is proud to be affiliated with the Michigan-LSAMP program. I know these students can benefit immensely from our support in their successful pursuit of studies in math, science and engineering, which can lead to a wide range of careers."
The MI-LSAMP initiative addresses several vital issues facing the country, and particularly the state of Michigan, which is experiencing a brain drain of college graduates moving to other states. As Gov. Jennifer Granholm leads an effort to transition the state from 'rust belt' to 'high tech', the need for qualified graduates in engineering and science is critical.
Wayne State has long attracted a large percentage of minority students, but it shares the problem of other universities nationwide, that is, retaining minority students in engineering and the sciences. "The gap in minority graduation rates in science and technology across the country is widening, said Gerald Thompkins, associate dean of engineering, and director of Wayne State's MI-LSAMP program. "We haven't done a good job in helping our students see the opportunities and options. Our program will work directly with our incoming minority freshmen, ensuring that they make a smooth and informal transition to college from high school, thereby increasing their chances to succeed in engineering."
According to the 2000 U.S. Census, African Americans, Hispanics and American Indians comprise 26.4 percent of the total U.S. population with steady growth expected. However, they represented only about 14 percent of all the engineering baccalaureates in 2002, according to the American Associate of Engineering Societies.
The MI-LSAMP Alliance is being managed by the University of Michigan and hopes to help individual minority students in a number of other ways, including: