The Institute of Technology has received a grant from the 3M Foundation to fund
a new effort to increase the number and diversity of engineering students.
The $93,000 grant, which is renewable for up to three additional years, has
a special focus on retaining women and members of underrepresented populations.
The 3M Foundation Retention Initiative provides financial support for new components of existing programs offered by the Institute of Technology Program for Women, Academic Programs for Excellence in Engineering and Science (APEXES), and the Institute of Technology Center for Educational Programs.
The new components include:
a 10-week summer bridge program for 20 incoming Institute of Technology freshmen, starting in summer 2006;
a one-week career exploration program for high school girls being piloted in summer 2006 in which the students will learn about four research areas: chemistry, computer science/robotics, earth-surface dynamics, and nanotechnology;
a new elective course for Institute of Technology freshmen introducing them to the field of engineering, offered in spring semester 2006; and
involvement in Project Lead the Way, an innovative engineering curriculum for high school and middle school students that currently is being taught in 42 states.
“Women and people of color have been underrepresented in the fields of engineering and physical sciences throughout our country's history,” said Roberta Humphreys, Institute of Technology associate dean for academic affairs. “As our country faces enormous challenges in these areas in the future, we must foster the development of the best and brightest from our entire population. By offering more opportunities earlier in students' education, we can help them overcome barriers and achieve success.”
3M Foundation officials agree. “We've seen the news about the overall decrease in engineering graduates in our country, and we think we can do something about that problem,” said Barbara Kaufmann, manager of education giving at 3M Foundation. “The first step is to draw more students into the field in the early years and then make sure they're successful. We think the programs funded by this grant help to do just that.”
The University of Minnesota has received a gift of $500,000 from Boston Scientific Corporation to fund the creation of the Boston Scientific Corporation Biomedical Engineering Fellowship Fund. The fund will help support new full-time biomedical engineering graduate students during their first semester.
“This gift from Boston Scientific is a critical first step in our goal to continue to attract top biomedical engineering graduate students to the University of Minnesota,” said Bob Tranquillo, head of the Department of Biomedical Engineering. “Graduate students are a vital part of the engine that drives our research. By offering fellowship support up front, we can attract students who will continue the University’s legacy of breakthrough research in the medical device industry and help chart the frontiers of biomedical engineering.”
“Boston Scientific is committed to aiding the development of tomorrow’s scientists, engineers, and mathematicians,” said Fred Colen, Boston Scientific’s executive vice president and chief technology officer. “These same students might someday develop medical technologies that could help save or improve the lives of patients around the globe.”
The contribution from Boston Scientific, which will be spread over five years, is a lead gift in a campaign to create an endowment designed to ultimately support the entire class of first-year biomedical engineering graduate students each fall. About a third of the contribution will be used immediately for graduate fellowships, while the remainder will be placed in an endowment to earn interest and fund fellowships over time. The goal over five years is to raise at least $2 million for fellowships. These funds will be matched by the University to generate an estimated $200,000 per year to support 20 graduate students.
“Biomedical engineering plays a pivotal role in our goal to build stronger ties among biology, medicine, and engineering at the University, especially in the area of medical devices,” said Steven Crouch, Institute of Technology dean. “This gift from Boston Scientific is not only important to the biomedical engineering department but also to the future of the entire Institute of Technology.”
