Community Relations & Diversity

MEP student leaders in the ITLL (2003).

Engineering industry and the college share interest in building the engineering “pipeline”—the number of high school students interested and prepared to pursue higher education and careers in engineering or technology.

We invite you to partner with us in a variety of programs aimed at building the K-12 pipeline and supporting students from diverse backgrounds in choosing the engineering profession. By participating in industry panels, hosting tours at your company, mentoring students in projects, or providing financial sponsorship, you can offer insight and support to students in their pursuit of engineering careers.  Opportunities to get involved include:

• Multicultural Engineering Program
  An undergraduate academic program focusing particularly on the recruitment and retention of underrepresented students in engineering, MEP offers a variety of high school outreach programs including the Success Institute and Colorado MESA Fall Fling, as well as a Summer Bridge program for incoming freshmen to the college. Industry volunteers are essential to the success of these programs.
          Contact: Anthea Johnson-Rooen
          Co-Director, Multicultural Engineering Program
          303-492-4276 or Anthea.Johnson@colorado.edu

•  Women in Engineering Program
  An undergraduate academic program focusing on the recruitment and retention of women in engineering, WIEP offers outreach programs such as Career Days for High School Women, along with support and mentoring programs for college students. CU also is a participant in MentorNet, an online mentoring network matching female students with professionals in science and engineering. Volunteers are needed.
          Contact: Beverly Louie
          Director, Women in Engineering Program
          303-492-4967 or Beverly.louie@colorado.edu

• High School Honors Institute
  This four-day summer program gives high school juniors and seniors an opportunity to experience life as an engineering student and learn about career opportunities as a professional engineer. Students stay in a campus residence hall, explore the different engineering majors through hands-on activities, and hear from professional engineers about what they do on the job.
          Contact: Lelei Finau-Starkey
          Director, Outreach and Education
          303-492-1146 or finau@colorado.edu

• Integrated Teaching & Learning Laboratory
  The ITL Laboratory runs an extensive program of K-12 engineering outreach, including hands-on workshops for K-12 students and teachers. ITL co-sponsors the Success Institute and Girls Embrace Technology internship program with MEP and WIEP. Initiatives also include the development of the national TeachEngineering digital library and the Technology and Engineering to Advance Math and Science (TEAMS) initiative in local public schools.
          Contact: Jackie Sullivan
          Co-Director, ITLL
          303-492-8303 or Jacquelyn.sullivan@colorado.edu

• Colorado Space Grant Consortium
  Established by NASA in 1989 as part of a national effort to maintain America's preeminence in aerospace science and technology, the Colorado Space Grant Consortium extends space education to K-12 schools through its 14 member colleges and universities throughout Colorado. Headquartered at CU-Boulder, the consortium offers teacher workshops, and provides group tours and hands-on activities in the Discovery Learning Center at CU-Boulder.
          Contact: Bernadette Garcia
          Associate Director, COSGC
          303-492-3141 or Bernadette.garcia@colorado.edu