The Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta has announced a new partnership with Intel Inc. in an effort to increase the number of students from underrepresented minority groups who pursue degrees in engineering and computer science. Intel has pledged to have its workforce mirror the national population percentages for women and minorities by the year 2020.
The Intel Diversity Scholars Program at Georgia Tech will seek to recruit and retain minority students in STEM fields. A three-week summer institute for rising high school juniors and seniors will be used as a recruiting tool. Students who enter Georgia Teach as Intel Diversity Scholars will receive financial aid, participate in professional development workshops, be eligible for internships, and have access to mentors at Intel. The company will invest about $5 million in the diversity scholars program over the next five years.
Gary May, dean of the College of Engineering at Georgia Tech, said that “it is a national imperative that the U.S. continue to enhance the engagement of students of all backgrounds in STEM fields to create a more robust economy. The higher education and private sectors must combine forces to achieve the impact that is necessary. As a national leader in producing outstanding underrepresented engineering graduates, Georgia Tech is pleased to partner with Intel in this transformative initiative.”
Dr. May has been on the Georgia Tech faculty since 1991. He is a graduate of Georgia Tech and holds a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in electrical engineering and computer science from the University of California, Berkeley.
