Diversity Engineering Scholarship Program

Building on Tradition

Since 1973, The University of Tennessee's College of Engineering (COE) has promoted the recruitment of African American students through the Minority Engineering Scholarship Program (MESP). UT corporate partners have given financial support and relevant work experiences for MESP participants through the Office of Professional Practice. Primarily as a result of these two programs, the COE has been ranked in the top 25 universities for African American engineering graduates during the last two decades.

The COE's efforts are currently directed to the recruitment of African American engineering students through a new program called the Diversity Engineering Scholarship Program (DESP). DESP will have the same goal as MESP -- to attract, educate and graduate responsible engineers to address the challenges of our society and the world.

Program Structure

Through DESP, candidates are sought and recruited as early as high school. This scholarship, combined with university scholarships and earnings from the Office of Professional Practice (OPP), has the possibility of totaling over $60,000. DESP is currently one of the most attractive recruiting packages in the United States. The advantages of learning engineering in a nationally recognized first-year program offered through the COE, called the Engineering Fundamentals Program, and of working with the OPP offers students every possible opportunity to succeed.

DESP works with COE administrators, UT Admissions, corporate partners and OPP students and ambassadors as well as alumni and high school systems in providing communications to top candidates and their families in pursuit of a quality college education. DESP candidates are identified and encouraged to apply for this prestigious scholars' program. Through contact with the OPP, students can register online and communicate with OPP via Internet. Each interested candidate must express interest during his/her first semester at UT in order to receive full consideration for selection.

During the first two semesters at UT, DESP candidates will be expected to:

• Comply with all requirements and expectations associated with the DESP and OPP
• Attend seminars detailing the co-op engineering program, goal setting and work ethics
• Develop a resume
• Attend an interviewing workshop
• Attend at least one student debrief (oral reports by returning Co-op students)
• Meet with a director in OPP to discuss career plans
• Maintain full-time student status (at least 12 hours), unless approved by the Director of OPP

Corporate partners historically prefer the following engineering majors:

• Chemical Engineering
• Civil Engineering
• Computer Engineering
• Electrical Engineering
• Industrial Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering

However, co-op engineering opportunities are available to all undergraduate engineering majors.

Scholarship awards are based on academic achievement of a minimum current G.P.A. of 2.7. In addition, awardees must stay in compliance by taking courses approved by their COE faculty advisor that meet progression standards. Outstanding academic success (3.0+ G.P.A.) offers each student the opportunity for other UT and COE scholarships. DESP is structured to offer an increased award (an extra $1,000) the last two semesters of each candidate's schedule if a 3.0+ G.P.A. is consistently maintained during qualifying academic semesters.

Selection and Benefits

Corporate partners review student materials and interview candidates for consideration. DESP students usually work the first Co-op Engineering assignment and return to UT for the first financial award of $2,000. All subsequent assignments are predicated on performance, and students must earn the invitation to return to the next assignment. Generally, candidates selected for DESP will schedule four alternating work assignments before graduation. Any changes must be approved by the OPP Director, faculty advisor and the corporate partner in advance.

With four work assignments, the student can receive five regular awards of $2,000 (providing the qualifying academic semester gpa is met). The incentive has been established for DESP students to receive a $3,000 award for each of the last two semesters (again, providing the qualifying academic semester G.P.A. is 3.0+).

Under this criteria, DESP awardees can receive up to $16,000. In addition to the DESP award, all Co-op Engineering assignments are paid positions. Co-op engineers may earn a total of $24,000 to $30,000+ as a result of working four co-op assignments. Through DESP and Cooperative Engineering, students could receive as much as $46,000 over four years.

UT's Office of Professional Practice has prepared graduates to be leaders in their chosen professions since 1926. The UT OPP is accredited by the Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology (ABET) and students receive a Co-op certificate which states that they have met the ABET criteria and comply with having one year of relevant engineering experience.

Additionally, Co-op students benefit greatly from networking with experienced engineers and potential future colleagues. Many Co-op alumni become significant mentors to engineering Co-op students.

The DESP is open to all African American students desiring consideration at UT. Selection is made during the second semester or later. All undergraduate engineering students are also encouraged to apply for entry to the Cooperative Engineering Program.

Sample DESP Student Schedules

Example 1
Year	Fall	Spring	Summer
First	School	School	Co-op or Vacation
Second	School	Co-op	School
Third	Co-op	School	Co-op
Fourth	School	Co-op or School	School
Fifth	School	Graduation
Example 2
Year	Fall	Spring	Summer
First	School	School	School or Vacation
Second	Co-op	School	Co-op
Third	School	Co-op	School
Fourth	Co-op	School	School
Fifth	School	Graduation

Contact Information

Office of Professional Practice
Attention: Diversity Engineering Scholarship Program
310 Perkins Hall
Knoxville, TN 37996-2030
Phone: (865) 974-5323
Website: www.coop.utk.edu
E-mail: coop@utk.edu