NSBE Magazine - Fall 2010 - 19

THE PRogRAMS zoNE

heLpINg StUdeNtS GO ThE dISTANCE
By Jarrell D. Johnson, NSBE National Programs Chair
ast year, the National Society of Black Engineers began its endeavor to make an impact on the retention rates of African-American students in the fields of engineering and applied sciences. This need stems from the statistics that show more than half of our students dropping out of the field before their sophomore year. During its firstyear pilot, many schools began to take charge and adopt the NSBE Freshmen Retention Program as an integral part of their chapter’s programming. Some schools, such as Clarkson University, even went as far as providing an adaptation of the retention program to the entire engineering student body. This year, NSBE will continue to push forward with its retention efforts in the rebranding of the program. We will provide additional support for sophomore students by increasing interaction with faculty and staff, personal development and leadership opportunities. And we will enhance career path development for junior students by increasing preparation for graduate school admissions and/or entry into the engineering industry and by making opportunities available for volunteer, educational and paid experiences in engineering. While the chapters work hard to provide the necessary programs for the membership, NSBE’s Programs team will work diligently to strengthen the partnership between the National Association of Multicultural Engineering Program Advocates (NAMEPA) and NSBE. This partnership is one of many that will allow increased capabilities for large-scale institutional programs and a better mechanism for data collection and program evaluation. In addition to partnering with NAMEPA, the Programs team will work with other entities that will benefit our chapter members. One example is Exxon Mobil Corporation, which has announced a new award to recognize university programs focused on retaining minority engineering students. The ExxonMobil NSBE Impact Award, funded by a $120,000 grant from ExxonMobil Foundation, will acknowledge universi-

ties that have developed innovative and successful retention programs targeting African-American, Hispanic-American and American Indian students pursuing degrees in engineering. Three universi-

ties will be awarded $10,000 each in September to support their efforts and to provide recognition to encourage other universities to duplicate or develop their own retention programs. ■

ENGINEERING CAREERS
The tougher the challenge, the better it feels when you finally overcome it. Most people wouldn’t have thought it was possible to run a gas rig on less power than it takes to boil a kettle of water. But that didn’t stop us from finding a way. If you get a kick out of being challenged, talk to Shell. We’ll team you up with some of our most accomplished problem solvers, and give you the training and support you need to develop your career. Together, we can help build a responsible energy future. Think further.

Shell is proud to be recognized by Universum as one of the world’s most attractive employers. To learn more and apply, visit www.shell.us/students.
Shell is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

@ShellCareers

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nsbe magazine • fall 2010 • 19 8/9/10 9:36 AM

NSBE Magazine - Fall 2010

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of NSBE Magazine - Fall 2010