Project Objective | - National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) National Convention -- March, 2006 -- Two MEP staff members will participate in the Career and Graduate School fair during the convention. With over 12,000 students attending the event each year it is an excellent opportunity to recruit minority students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. The goal is designed to increase the awareness, participation, and excitement surrounding graduate school and the pursuit of higher education. Through the careful integration of planned events, students and professionals can learn about higher education opportunities and resources. Several new activities have been incorporated into the agenda that are designed to promote higher education, increase student participation, and emphasize academic and technical excellence.
- UMR/NSBE PCI Weekend -- February 2006 -- The National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) is the largest student-run, non-profit organization in the country. Its objective is to promote the recruitment, retention, and successful graduation of African-Americans in engineering, science and technology. NSBE serves as a vehicle to promote unity through programs that encourage academic excellence, perennial growth, and professional development.
One of the objectives of the UMR-NSBE chapter is to encourage high school students to pursue careers in engineering, science, and technology and to consider UMR as a choice for their college home. The UMR NSBE chapter will host its annual Pre-College Initiative (PCI) weekend. Approximately 60 students are expected to attend each year. Students will participate in a series of workshops, hands-on activities, admissions seminar, and a civil engineering design project. - Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) National Convention -- January, 2006. Three MEP staff members will participate in the Career and Graduate School fair during the convention. With over 10,000 students attending the event each year it is an excellent opportunity to recruit minority students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. The goal is designed to increase the awareness, participation, and excitement surrounding graduate school and the pursuit of higher education. Through the careful integration of planned events, students and professionals can learn about higher education opportunities and resources. Several new activities have been incorporated into the agenda that are designed to promote higher education, increase student participation, and emphasize academic and technical excellence.
- MEP/SHPE Kansas City High School Hispanic Recruitment Program - The Kansas City High School Hispanic Recruitment Program is a collective effort of MEP* & SHPE*, to support and increment the recruitment of Hispanic High School Senior/Junior/Sophomore students with a desire to pursue a B.S. degree in engineering, mathematics, or science at UMR. The K.C. Recruitment Program consists of two main stages:
STAGE 1 UMR Recruitment visits to Kansas City. The first visit will take place in mid- October 2005 (for seniors), and the second one in mid-March 2005 (for sophomores/juniors). During these visits, ten SHPE recruiters will be visiting 9 high schools (selected by LULAC), and informing students about UMR programs, scholarships, MEP summer Program, MITE Program, B.S. majors, and application process. SHPE recruiters will also recollect student's information in order to select the top 30 qualified students to assist to the UMR open house in November 2005. STAGE 2 Kansas City top 30-40 high school students will visit UMR for Open House from November 10 to November 12, 2005. This visit is designed to introduce prospective students to the UMR environment and opportunities. Students will participate in activities with SHPE and MEP. They will visit various UMR departments, and explore their education options. Students will submit their admission applications at the end of the program.
- MEP Summer Enrichment Program -The objectives of the pre-engineering summer program are:
- To bolster and strengthen the pre-college preparation in mathematics, science, and English composition of minority students who have potential for engineering careers and to encourage them to enter such careers.
- To provide opportunities for program participants to learn more about the career opportunities in engineering and science and technology.
- To help make an adjustment to the rural and university environment.
- To assist selected students through the baccalaureate degree with tutorial, scholarship, employment opportunities, and counseling help as needed.
This program is required of all the Minority Engineering Program scholarship recipients. For four weeks beginning July 5 and ending on July 29, each year the MEP scholars take classes in Mathematics (at the appropriately determined level), English and chemistry. The benefits are tremendous, not only do the students have an academic head start when the fall semester begins, but they also become a team. Rigorous study prepares them for a demanding engineering curriculum, and they experience life in a dorm away from friends and family. Along with academics, scholars learn about career opportunities that await them once they earn their degree. Special seminars are hosted by industry representatives and engineering department chairs that focus on career and educational opportunities for minority students. The proven track record of this program on the UMR campus has sparked a similar program for minority freshman engineering students. Next year we are investigating supporting 50 students at $4,000 each for a total of $200,000. Our goal is 25 female and 25 male students.
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