CEED recently hosted its annual kickoff event, aiming to increase student involvement in engineering with a special focus on first-year and transfer students.

Georgia Tech's Center for Engineering Education and Diversity (CEED) recently hosted its annual kickoff event, aiming to increase student involvement in engineering with a special focus on first-year and transfer students.

The kickoff gathering showcased CEED's commitment to providing comprehensive support for both undergraduate and graduate students, with an emphasis on increasing diversity in engineering disciplines. The event featured testimonials from faculty, staff, and student mentors, showcasing CEED’s diverse leadership dedicated to supporting all students at Georgia Tech.

Assistant Director of Undergraduate Initiatives Valentina De La Fé welcomed new and returning students, detailing the resources available to students through seven key initiatives:

  1. Academic and social support
  2. Research opportunities
  3. Faculty exposure
  4. Corporate sponsorships
  5. Scholarships
  6. Campus resources
  7. National research conferences

RISE: Retaining Inspirational Students in Engineering

Established in 2012, Retaining Inspirational Students in Engineering (RISE) is one of CEED’s a flagship programs. Its primary goal is to increase retention of underrepresented students in engineering disciplines.

RISE pairs students with mentors to help navigate their first-year experience and provides funding opportunities from corporate and foundational sponsors.

Valentina De La Fé speaks at the CEED Kickoff event

Peer-to-Peer Mentoring

CEED fosters community building through its peer-to-peer mentoring program. The tiered mentoring program provides academic, financial, and social support to ensure that minority students stick with STEM degree programs. Key features include:

  • Major-specific mentoring
  • Monthly professional development sessions
  • Monthly stipends to assist with college expenses
  • Opportunities for promotion from associate mentee to graduate mentor

Graduate-Level Support

CEED offers several programs to support graduate students.

The Graduate Retaining Inspirational Students in Technology and Engineering (Grad RISE) program offers financial support to offset fees for students in STEM programs. Grad RISE focuses on students from historically underrepresented groups.

CEED also is a member of the GEM Consortium, a national program providing graduate fellowships at the master’s and Ph.D. levels coupled with paid summer internships.

Another program, Graduate Retention Enrichment and Academic Champions (Grad REACH) is a retention program focused on supporting master's and doctoral students in STEM.

CEED's Impact and Future Goals

CEED aims to continue fostering an inclusive environment where all students can thrive, regardless of their background. The center serves first-generation college students, international scholars, and students from any background, helping them succeed in their engineering journey on campus.