To keep overwhelmed engineering freshmen from transferring out of the college, Duke Energy has donated $78,000 to programs designed to recruit and retain students.
According to a College of Engineering news release, studies show that minority students, particularly those in their first year, are most at risk of leaving their major.
Successful Transition through Enhanced Preparation for Undergraduates Program, or STEPUP, provides underrepresented engineering students such as females, and minority races and nationalities with an academic support system. This prepares them for the demands and challenges that come with their first year of college, according to the release.
Andrew Raposo, a 22-year-old UF electrical engineering senior, said programs like STEPUP help students tweak their studying habits and mentality so they’re not surprised by the difficulty of the material their first year.
“Many students coming from high school have never had such demanding courses,” Raposo said.
Founded in 1993, STEPUP helps connect students with role models and resources on campus where they can find help if they begin to fall behind.
Limited to about 30 students, the program also introduces students with potential employers to begin forming relationships before graduation.
Duke Energy’s recent contribution will cover full program expenses for 10 students for one year. It also funded the design tools for 140 students enrolled in the summer freshman engineering design class from both the STEPUP program and the Engineering Freshman Transition Program, EFT.
Jake Woodbury, an 18-year-old UF computer engineering freshman, said being in the EFT program has helped him choose the type of engineer he wants to become.
“The program gave me a head start as an engineer by giving me the chance to design projects, which most students can’t until their final year,” he said.
For more than 40 years, Duke Energy has contributed solar arrays on campus, funding for the College of Engineering Leadership and Innovation, the UF Training Reactor digital control system, an online certificate program in nuclear engineering and undergraduate scholarships totalling $6,164,413, according to the release.
“We want to support students who pursue math and science degrees and look forward to continuing to do so,” said Sterling Ivey, spokesperson for Duke Energy.
A version of this story ran on page 8 on 8/26/2013 under the headline "Duke Energy donates $78,000 to recruit and keep students"
