ExxonMobil is a company built on technology leadership. So it shouldn’t come as a surprise that we work hard to support and encourage the next generation of bright-minded scientists and engineers – specifically when it comes to the involvement of women and minorities in these fields.  I’ve invited Kenny Warren, vice president of ExxonMobil Research and Engineering, to share news about ExxonMobil’s work with the National Society of Black Engineers, and to honor some exceptional universities for their commitment to retaining minority engineering students.  –Ken

Across the United States, schools, governments and companies – including ExxonMobil – are investing time and money to encourage students to study math and science and potentially pursue careers in fields like engineering that require these essential skills.

When these kids go off to college and major in science, technology, engineering or math (STEM), we know we are making progress. But our efforts can’t stop there.

All too often, minority students begin their college careers in a math or science field, but don’t have the necessary support to finish it.  In fact, 60 percent of African Americans who start STEM degrees change their major. The consequence of this trend is alarming: Under-represented minorities make up just 10 percent of Americans working in the science and engineering field.

Unless something changes, we run the risk of missing out on an entire generation of talented and inventive minds.

I’m pleased to say that with the help of some innovative universities and student engineers, change is happening now.  In partnership with the National Society of Black Engineers, ExxonMobil has created the “Impact Award.”  The Impact Award recognizes collegiate programs that are not only making significant inroads to keep minority students in engineering-related programs, but also have the ability to be replicated at other schools.

It was my honor to present the inaugural Impact Award on April 13 to the following universities:

• Purdue University – The program focuses on outreach, recruitment and retention efforts and offers support to entering freshmen as well as returning engineering students.  The university has also implemented an Academic Boot Camp, which is geared toward helping students adjust to differences between high school and college and offering assistance with first-year engineering courses.
• Virginia Tech – The Center for Enhancement of Engineering Diversity (CEED) focuses on ensuring that freshman students successfully transition to college.  CEED implements a summer bridge program, freshman peer mentoring and residential living-learning communities, all of which contribute to the academic, personal and professional success of their students.
• University of Texas at Austin – The Equal Opportunity in Engineering initiative focuses on academic success and personal growth and includes First Year Interest Groups, or FIGs, that serve to help students build support networks with other students and faculty members.  FIG cohorts also share a class schedule and weekly seminars to encourage relationship building among peers.

Each school will receive a $10,000 grant to maintain and build upon these programs. Ultimately, we hope these programs can serve as models for other universities to make an even bigger impact on our nation’s college students.

ExxonMobil’s success depends on recruiting the best and brightest engineers, scientists and innovators. That means we have to make sure that all students with an interest in STEM careers stick with it. Our future as a company depends on it.  Our future as a country does, too.