Scholarships and fellowships help us to attract the best and brightest
students from Minnesota and other states, regardless of their income
or family support. Financial awards also broaden the diversity of
science and technology communities by offering educational opportunities
to members of underrepresented populations.
Increases in the cost of education for students at all levels have
exceeded the rate of inflation for most of the past 20 years. Today's
students shoulder a much higher percentage of their educational
costs and after graduation may face the prospect of a crippling
student loan debt.
Undergraduate support
For students choosing a college, scholarships
can make the difference between attending the University
or going somewhere else—or not attending college
at all. Scholarships allow qualified students to devote
their full attention to academic pursuits—including
course work, research, internships, and other enrichment
activities—and to complete their degrees in a
timely manner.
Fewer than 300 of the 4,000 undergraduates enrolled in IT currently
receive scholarships supported by private gifts. Our goal is to
double the current number of scholarships.
Graduate support
A university's reputation and
national stature are often measured by the caliber of its master's
and doctoral students. Talented graduate
students set high standards for their peers and enhance faculty
research. After earning their degrees, they often bring further
distinction to their alma maters as faculty at other institutions
or as leaders in industry.
Competitive fellowships remove the financial barriers that deter
many highly qualified undergraduates in U.S. colleges from pursuing
an advanced degree. However, we are able to offer endowment-supported
fellowships to just a fraction of our 1,600 graduate students.
Our goal is to endow more than 100 new fellowships across all of
IT's disciplines, which will help us compete more effectively against
other universities to attract the most promising American students
to our programs.
Student enrichment
Our students agree that some
of their most rewarding, educational, and life-changing experiences
occur outside the usual classroom
setting. These opportunities include programs that serve members
of populations that are underrepresented in scientific and technological
fields, international exchange programs, IT Honors Program, Career Center for Science and Engineering, internships, field camps, and extracurricular activities.
Because our students embody the future, together we must do all
that we can to secure their success. Your support can help us change
lives and shape the future for generations to come.
