Winter 2002 Vol. 11 No. 1

The University of Michigan

Minority Engineering Program Office

Setting the Standard!

The University of Michigan, College of Engineering, Minority Engineering Program Office (MEPO), is on the cutting edge of diversity initiatives in higher education. Under the leadership of Derrick E. Scott, MEPO Director, the office has seen great strides in overall under represented minority enrollment, and in the number of under represented engineering graduates for the B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees.

"We are pleased with the progress of the College on a number of fronts," said Scott. In the past five years, we've set a College record in the number of minority student B.S. engineering graduates and seen significant rises in first-year student enrollment. We have also seen significant improvements in the College environment as faculty and departments have become much more involved, in diversity educational programming." He cited the development of departmental learning centers modeled on MEPO's Engineering Learning Resource Center (ELRC), where students can receive tutoring, participate in study groups, and receive valuable professional and academic information. "Now, we have come full circle; our new Associate Dean of Undergraduate Education, Professor Levi Thompson, was a graduate student here and benefited from MEPO's academic and professional development services." We are pleased and gratified that the College has chosen him to lead undergraduate education, and we know that he will maintain a keen focus on diversity issues," Scott added. In addition to the ELRC, MEPO also offers scholarships; extensive advising services; information and referral; academic and professional development workshops featuring local and national speakers; and links to national initiatives designed to enhance students' academic, professional, and personal success. "The goal is to create a strong academic community where students are welcomed into the College and feel both challenged and supported", Scott said.

"The goal is to create a strong academic community where students are welcomed into the College and feel both challenged and supported."

One of MEPO's strongest components is its summer programs. MEPO's Summer Engineering Academy (SEA), supported substantially by General Motors Corporation, offers a seamless progression of on-campus summer enrichment and academic skill-building initiatives for students in grades 8 through incoming first-year students. A sub-component of SEA, the Summer Engineering Institute (SEI), which is supported largely by Ford Motor Company, focuses on preparing incoming students for a challenging first year. SEI initiatives include academic classes, some with course credit; interactions with engineering students, faculty, and staff; work experiences; and exposure to engineering careers. Now, Scott will bring his 15+ years of experience as MEPO Director to bear on his professional organization. He was recently voted as President of the National Association of Minority Engineering Program Administrators. "We are finding ourselves in the midst of new environments and new challenges," said Scott. "frankly, there are national challenges to diversity that we will have to address strategically, in a way that preserves valuable programs and answers public concerns. As an organization, we will have to brainstorm and share new strategies to address the new realities and climate", he said. Scott is up to the challenge. "I am working to see the day where diversity is such a part of the fabric of this institution that MEPO becomes unnecessary."