Purdue News
Purdue NewsThe grant will help fund the "Faculty for the Future -- Engineering and Science" program. The program's goal is to increase the number of African-American, Hispanic, Native American and female students who pursue academic careers in computer science, engineering or physics, said Dwight E. Lewis, coordinator of minority programs for the Graduate School and program director.
The program will include aggressive recruiting through an undergraduate visitation program similar to Purdue's Historically Black Institution Visitation Program, and individual campus visits for prospective graduate students. The grant also will fund undergraduate research internships with a faculty mentor and fellowship awards for students beginning their doctoral studies.
A speaker series will offer a focal point for networking of graduate and undergraduate women and minority students on campus, and there will be a mentoring effort. In addition, the program will offer recruitment incentives for graduate students such as forgivable loans and developmental funds.
Lewis and Ron Steuterman of the University Development Office presented the proposal to the GE Fund Committee. "We highlighted Purdue's successful 10-year track record in minority graduate programs as well as the success in attracting undergraduate women and minority students to the Schools of Engineering," Lewis said. "We stressed the achievements of the Historically Black Institution Visitation Program, and they were a decisive factor in securing the grant. This record of accomplishments impressed the committee with the level of commitment by Purdue to increasing the opportunities for minority students to pursue both graduate and undergraduate studies."
The Historically Black Institution Visitation program provides an opportunity for outstanding minority undergraduate students to visit Purdue's campus, meet with faculty, administrators and graduate students, and to consider applying for graduate study at Purdue. Ninety-one students recruited through the program have completed graduate studies since it began in 1988, and eight have completed doctorates.
Purdue will contribute approximately $1.5 million toward the support of the GE Fund students in the form of tuition and fee remissions, guaranteed positions as teaching or research assistants, summer support and stipend supplements. Twelve graduate students and 30 undergraduates are expected to benefit directly during the three years.
Warren Stevenson, associate dean of the Schools of Engineering, said: "As U.S. society becomes more diverse, it is important that all of the professions, including engineering, reflect that diversity. It is also clear that the faculty in an engineering school such as Purdue must have women and minority members who can serve as role models and mentors if the diversity of the student body is to grow.
"The need is especially great in the case of minorities, since the number interested in pursuing a Ph.D. as the basis for an academic career is very low. For example, from 1977 to 1994 only 18 Ph.D.s were awarded to minorities in engineering at Purdue. Nevertheless, Purdue ranks second in the Big Ten in this category.
"With the availability of the GE Fund Faculty for the Future Fellowships, we hope to increase the total number of minority students who receive a Ph.D. and, most importantly, encourage many of these to choose a faculty position following graduation."
Marion Blalock, senior program manager of freshman engineering, Michael Forman, associate
dean in the School of Science, and Stevenson will be members of the advisory committee
for the grant.
CONTACTS: Lewis, (765) 494-0945; e-mail, delewis@grad.purdue.edu
Stevenson, (765) 494-5340; e-mail, stevensw@ecn.purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu
