Two students working in an engineering lab
The American Society for Engineering Education Diversity Recognition Program has awarded VCU Engineering a Bronze award for its commitment to bringing women and underrepresented minorities into the field. (Photo courtesy of VCU Engineering)

Aug. 7, 2019

VCU Engineering’s diversity and inclusion efforts recognized by the American Society for Engineering Education

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By Kendra Gerlach
VCU College of Engineering

The Virginia Commonwealth University College of Engineering has earned a Bronze Award from the American Society for Engineering Education’s inaugural Diversity Recognition Program. The award acknowledges VCU Engineering’s commitment to bringing women and underrepresented minorities into the field and places the college among the nation’s leaders in inclusive excellence.

An institution is expected to attain the Bronze recognition before applying for the Silver or Gold awards.

VCU Engineering’s percentages of female and underrepresented minority undergraduates has seen a 33% increase since 2012. In addition, it is Virginia’s No. 1 engineering program for percentage of Hispanic/Latinx graduates. 

The college’s inclusion efforts also include K-12 outreach activities focused on bringing STEM learning to students from widely varied demographics, backgrounds and learning styles. The college has regional and global partnerships with multiple institutions including Virginia Union University, the commonwealth’s oldest historically black university, and the government of the Ivory Coast in West Africa.