Diversity Initiatives

The College of Engineering seeks to enhance the academic environment for underrepresented and female students, as well as increase the recruitment and retention of these student populations. Student Services and Diversity Initiatives acts as a support system for all students, providing opportunities for leadership development and professional growth with a focus on academic excellence and peer-related support. Our signature programs are below.

Engineering Tiger Connections (ETC)

Engineering Tiger Connections (ETC) is the Engineering Diversity Programs’ Open House event held in the Fall semester during LSU’s Bengal Bound Week. This event is targeted to freshmen and transfer students enrolled in any of the majors offered in the College of Engineering. This program focuses on building the engineering student community and connection to the College of Engineering. ETC is sponsored by Marathon.

Women Impacting Style in Engineering (WISE)

WISE is a networking dinner and style show for female students with leading female professional engineers held during the Spring semester. WISE benefits LSU students by demonstrating how to dress appropriately at various events and provides an opportunity to network with women engineering professionals and build soft skills. WISE prepares these female students for successful professional image and presentation during interns, co-ops, and professional full-time positions. WISE is sponsored by Halliburton. 

REHAMS

Recruiting into Engineering High-Ability Multicultural Students (REHAMS) camp is for 10th–12th grade male and female students from all backgrounds who want to learn about various disciplines of engineering during a 7-day camp while residing on campus. Students will participate in LSU faculty-led Engineering 101 sessions and will be guided by current LSU engineering students through a variety of engineering activities. Students will also learn from professional engineers during an industry panel session. The highlight of this camp is the Design Project Competition, where students utilize the engineering design process to build a project while incorporating time, budget, aesthetics, and functionality.

https://precollege.lsu.edu/courses

Reduced fees are available with demonstrated need. These camps are supported by generous funding from Shell and Reginald Chatman.

Halliburton XCITE

The LSU Halliburton eXploration Camp Inspiring Tomorrow’s Engineers (XCITE) is a 7-day camp for rising 9th-12th grade female students that encourages them to pursue engineering/computer science/construction management careers. All girls will reside on campus in a residential hall while supervised by college student counselors. Participants will explore, create, experiment, build, code, design, and compete while learning about a variety of engineering majors and college life. LSU faculty and engineering students will interact with attendees in Engineering 101 information sessions and activities.

Highlights of the XCITE program:

  • Engineering Design Projects
  • Introduction to College Life
  • Teamwork and Leadership Activities
  • Panel Discussion With Female Engineers
  • Virtual Field Trip to a Refinery or Chemical Plant.

https://precollege.lsu.edu/courses

Reduced fees are available with demonstrated need. These camps are supported by generous funding from Halliburton.

The LSU Bridge to Engineering Excellence Program 2023

The LSU Bridge to Engineering Excellence (BEE) Program 2023 is an online summer program designed to help incoming LSU College of Engineering students review and prepare for differential and integral calculus. It highlights calculus topics, such as inverse functions, logarithms, trigonometry, limits and continuity, differentiation, applications of differentiation, integration, and applications of integration. The BEE Scholars program is taught online by university-based PhD mathematics faculty who have extensive experience in these fields. PRIDE Scholars students receive the benefits of:

  • Review and further development of algebra and pre-calculus topics.
  • Early preparation and overview of differential and integral calculus.
  • Small group help and guidance by LSU Engineering students offering services as teaching assistants.
  • URM* participants will be eligible to apply for the LSU NACME scholarship (for Bridge Program participants only).

*NACME scholarship-eligible minority groups:

  • African American*
  • Hispanic/Latino*
  • Native American/Alaskan Native*
  • Two or more races, when one or more are from the preceding racial and ethnic categories in this list.

Fluor Corporation provides partial sponsorship of  the program.

Program Eligibility

Students selected to participate in the BEE Online program must:

  • Be a major in the LSU College of Engineering, including construction management and computer science.
  • U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
  • Be admitted to LSU for the Summer 2023 or Fall 2023 semester terms as a first-year student.
  • Be available to participate in the BEE Online program for the entire six-week summer session. Monday, June 12 - July 20, 2023, including online workshops, supplemental instruction, and tutoring.
  • Plan to continue enrollment and graduate from LSU A&M.
  • Demonstrate exceptional academic ability and achievement, having a 25 or higher composite score on the ACT (or SAT equivalent) and a 3.0 or above cumulative unweighted GPA.
  • Preference is for students with financial need, e.g., Pell grant eligible, low expected family contribution, first-generation college students, and members of a historically underrepresented minority group.

Application & Acceptance

Applications are open through May 24, 2023. Acceptance is competitive and contingent on paying the LSU enrollment deposit. Students will be notified the second week of May.

Apply by clicking here.

Program Structure

Class Structure: Monday-Thursday mornings, one-hour online instruction is conducted by math faculty. Attendance is required.

Workgroups: Monday-Thursday, one-hour supplemental instruction (tentatively set for 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm) and tutoring groups with times available morning, afternoon, and early evening. Workgroups designed for homework assignments and supplemental instruction (SI) sessions will be supervised by the student academic mentors. Attendance is required.

Weekly Bridge Workshops: Once a week (typically Thursday), academic and professional success workshops will be held. Attendance is required.

Attendance: This program has a strict attendance policy to receive the certificate of completion. Students cannot miss more than one classroom day and two workgroup days. Attendance will be taken daily. Attendance will be governed by LSU PM22, which can be read by clicking here. 

Upon Completion: Participants who meet attendance and work completion criteria will receive an LSU Bridge to Engineering Excellence Certificate of Completion. URM participants will be considered for the LSU NACME scholarship, beginning with their first year at $2,500 per year. 

Diversity Staff

Associate Director
Sarah Jones
sjones@lsu.edu
225.578.5705

Professional In Residence – Retention & Diversity Initiatives
Roberto Champney
rchampney1@lsu.edu
225.578.2815