University of Nebraska Expands Engineering Access for Rural Students: How Will This Meet Workforce Demands?
Nebraska Engineering Inclusive Excellence Center will use mentoring and partnerships to support rural students.
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Students coming from rural populations will now have access to quality engineering education and opportunities following the University of Nebraska–Lincoln's announcement of the opening of the Nebraska Engineering Inclusive Excellence Center.
The center will not just focus on education, but also resource enhancement for students who study engineering and belong to diverse groups such as rural populations. For the University, it's a leap toward filling the increasing gaps found in skilled labor jobs, like engineering.
For the initiative to happen, the University's website acknowledged that this was made possible through a two-year, $1.2 million grant from the National Science Foundation.
Lance C. Pérez, dean of engineering, hopes that through these partnerships with schools and communities statewide, it can encourage more students to consider a career in engineering.
Meeting Workforce Demands
As previously stated, the aim is not just to widen access for aspiring Engineering students but also to produce skilled laborers.
In fact, the activities of the center will be based on the Complete Engineer program, a ten-year program that combines technical knowledge with necessary non-technical skills such as leadership and teamwork.
Key goals will be to develop peer-mentoring programs, relationships with educators, and faculty development in innovative teaching methods. This will ensure students succeed academically while also developing skills for the workforce.
The center also intends to review existing student support programs and implement targeted approaches, such as linking students with mentors who have similar experiences. This tailored support system is meant to enable more students to complete their degrees and transition into successful careers in engineering.
The new center will be located in the new six-story Kiewit Hall, which opened in January 2024, with the building designed to create stronger faculty engagement.
With this initiative, the University of Nebraska is setting a path toward inclusive and comprehensive approaches to engineering education, providing all aspiring Engineers to have tools to succeed in the workforce.
