This project awards scholarships of $5,000 per year for 2 years to 52 academically talented low-income, full-time students (in three separate cohorts) to obtain degrees in engineering at Wichita State University (WSU). The recruitment efforts specifically target low-income students in various populations: women, minorities, and students from underserved urban schools. The objectives include: (1) increasing the graduation success among low-income students; (2) increasing the number of students in the target populations who earn baccalaureate degrees in engineering; and (3) developing programs to increase retention and providing students a transition to work through the WSU coop program or as an undergraduate research assistant. The graduation rate of students in engineering at WSU is 25%. The graduation rate of students in the merit-based engineering scholarship program is 86%; more than three times the college-wide graduation rate. Building upon the success of this existing scholarship program, this project adds a new need-based scholarship program with mentoring, academic tutoring, group support, community living, and student study arrangements.
