We envision a world in which engineering is a mainstream word in homes and communities of color and all Black students can envision themselves as engineers. In this world, Blacks exceed parity in entering engineering fields, earning degrees and succeeding professionally.
To meet this goal, we focus on freshman engineering enrollment, and degree completion, by offering scholarships and our signature NSBE Academic Retention Program.
Summer bridge programs are typically residential academic and socialization programs for incoming freshmen, hosted by colleges and universities. Summer bridge programs provide early engagement and academic enrichment, while introducing students to the university and its faculty, and to the expectations of a rigorous engineering undergraduate program.
Research suggests that scholarships have a profound effect on college completion. This is especially true for African-American STEM students, who, as a group, have higher unmet financial needs than other students. The National Society of Black Engineers offers a variety of NSBE and corporate-sponsored scholarships ranging from $500 to $12,000 per year to our pre-college, undergraduate and graduate students.
The signature NSBE Academic Retention Program, which helps increase the success rate of engineering students through Technical and Professional Skills Workshops; Mentorship; Study Halls and Semester Check-Ins; and Mental Health Awareness, all conducted at the chapter level, is aimed at ensuring that students are academically and socially prepared to succeed in college.