Engineers for Education Seeks Volunteers for Precollege Initiative The result of a cooperative effort by 41 U.S. engineering societies, the National Coalition of Engineering Societies for Precollege Mathematics and Science Education, or Engineers for Education, is encouraging engineers to volunteer to help improve math and science education in U.S. classrooms. The goal of the program is to make the United States "second to none" in math and science by 2000. The program's mission involves working with organizations representing education, industry, and communities to ensure that effective collaborations are established at the local level.
Initiated in 1989, the coalition has re-
ceived over 2,300 requests for infor-
mation kits from engineers interested in volunteering for the project. For 1992, the group expects to operate 30 pilot sites and, based on experience with these projects, plans to expand the program to 100 sites by 1993. In total, the coalition hopes to recruit 100,000 volunteer engineers to participate in the program. To volunteer for the program, contact leon Delorme, Engineers for Education, 39 Old Ridgebury Road, Danbury, Connecticut 06817; telephone (800) 4890348; fax (203) 794-4000.
CPC President Decries Cuts to Career Centers The United States' ability to compete "could be severely curtailed in the next decade because of budget cutbacks employers and colleges and universities are being forced to make today," says H. Edward Babbush, president of the College Placement Council (CPC). Specifically, Babbush is concerned not only about budget cuts related to the student services programs of many college career centers but reductions in the college relations and recruitment offices of many major industries as well. As evidence, he points out that many companies are either reducing or dis man-
TRIVIOLOGY A
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Test your mastery of materials with TRIVIOLOGY-Campus Notebook's trivia challenge that asks questions related to metallurgy and materials science. Developed and contributed by Professor William F. Hosford (right) of the University of Michigan's Department of Materials Science and Engineering.
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tling their college relations programs even though many of the same firms are experiencing skilled-worker shortages and intensified competition. Critical of this philosophy, Babbush says, "Once you lose your presence on campus, it takes years to regain your position, and you end up spending more money in the long run than you would if you maintained a steady, year-in, year-out program." Rather than cutbacks, Babbush says the competitive situation requires growth to provide college career centers and recruiters with the tools they need to identify and place qualified graduates.
What African-American chemist developed a process for making plastics from peanuts? How did the phrase "pig iron" originate?
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NSF Funds Alliances to Increase Minority Participation In an effort to substantially increase the number of minority students receiving bachelor's degrees in science, engineering, and mathematics, the National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded six grants of approximately $5 million each under its Alliances for Minority Participation (AMP) program. The six universities receiving the cooperative-agreement grants and heading separate alliances are the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Arizona State University, the University of California at Irvine, Jackson State University, Texas A&M University, and the University of Puerto Rico. According to luther Williams, NSF assistant director for education and human resources, each alliance leader was selected because of its cohesive, collaborative strategy and specific goals. Under the program's guidelines, the objectives of each alliance include • Establishing partnerships among colleges and universities, school systems, government agencies, major national science and engineering laboratories and centers, industry, private foundations, and professional organizations. • Improving the registration and retention rates of minority students in undergraduate science, engineering, and mathematics education in order to increase the number of minority students receiving undergraduate degrees in these areas. • Creating an infrastructure and management plan among participating organizations and institutions to ensure long-term continuation ofthe AMP program or similar activities beyond the term of NSF financial support. • Developing specific evaluation plans and procedures for assessing both qualitative and quantitative progress toward achieving the AMP program's goals. According to the NSF, the alliance leaders receiving the grants are well positioned to realize the program's goals since they already have established partnerships and networks with numerous other universities, community colleges, national laboratories, agencies, private companies, and other organizations.
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JOM • March 1992
