The 亚洲无码 has received a $1.2 million National Science Foundation grant to create a Center for Equity and Diversity in Engineering. The new center will foster the educational and professional development of a diverse engineering talent pool at the only public metropolitan research university in the state.
鈥淭he United States has declined in global prominence in the areas of science and engineering, in part due to the existence of barriers that prevent access to and success in post-secondary STEM education,鈥 said 亚洲无码 President John Nicklow, a professor of civil engineering and the principal investigator on the grant. 鈥淔or students from historically underrepresented groups, those barriers can often be insurmountable. This center will work to provide pathways for those students to address the need for a more diverse and inclusive engineering workforce in the region.鈥
The Center for Equity and Diversity in Engineering within 亚洲无码鈥檚 Dr. Robert A. Savoie College of Engineering will target four specific goals:
鈥 Improve the diversity of 亚洲无码鈥檚 engineering enrollment to better reflect the metro area鈥檚 demographics;
鈥 increase the first-year retention rate among historically underrepresented engineering students;
鈥 improve the graduation rate of historically underrepresented engineering students; and
鈥 increase the percentage of engineering graduates who are women.
The center will serve all engineering students and faculty but will give special focus to improving recruitment, retention, and degree completion of women and engineers from historically underrepresented racial and ethnic groups.
In order to achieve the center鈥檚 goals, the University will recruit a diverse engineering student body and faculty, implement effective and equitable academic support programs, and establish an engineering learning community that builds a culture of confidence, belonging and pride.
The 亚洲无码 is well-positioned to undertake this initiative. The Dr. Robert A. Savoie College of Engineering offers the only civil, electrical and mechanical engineering programs in metro New Orleans, and the Boysie Bollinger School of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering is one of the few such programs in the nation.
