3M Foundation grant funds student retention initiative

The Institute of Technology has received a $93,000 grant from the 3M Foundation to fund a new effort to increase the number of engineering students, with a special focus on women and members of underrepresented populations. The grant is renewable for up to an additional three years.

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.

New components include a 10-week summer bridge program for 20 incoming IT freshmen; a summer career exploration program for girls in grades 9 through 11; the development of an elective course for IT freshmen that introduces them to the field of engineering; 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.

November 3, 2005