Prairie View A&M University was named one of six historically black colleges and universities to participate in the Intel HBCU Grant Program. The three-year, $4.5 million program will address the gap in HBCU students pursuing STEM degrees and encourage them to remain in STEM pathways. Intel created the Intel HBCU Grant Program as part of their $300 million Diversity in Technology initiative that “supports our bold goal of reaching full representation of women and underrepresented minorities in our U.S. workforce by 2020,” said Barbara Whye, chief diversity and inclusion officer, vice president of Human Resources, Intel Corporation.

Participating HBCUs will receive $3.9 million and $600,000 of those monies will be used for workshops and activities that ensure students are prepared with the skills and knowledge to work in the field of technology. During the three-year program, Intel will support multiyear investments in computer science, computer engineering and electrical engineer programs, curriculum and labs and has three components:

  • Scholarships: Two-year scholarships for students from college juniors to Ph.D.- level students with majors in computer science, computer engineering an electrical engineering.
  • Student Experiences: Proving computer science, computer engineering and electrical engineering students with opportunities to participate in labs, workshops and research experiences.
  • Tech Industry Workshops: Workshops hosted by Intel that bring together HBCUs and the technology industry to equip students with the relevant skills to succeed in the technology sector.

A report from the National Center for Education Statistics states African American students are more likely to depart from STEM majors within their first year in college. NCES also found that only 11 percent of African American students graduate with bachelor’s degrees in STEM. In 2015, Intel increased the number of schools at which they recruited by 60 percent year over year. They have also partnered with the following organizations that encourage more women and underrepresented minorities to enter and succeed in technology through programs and investments: The National GEM Consortium, Georgia Tech, the American Indian Science and Engineering Society, the Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley, CODE2040, and Oakland Unified School District among others. The following schools are also participants in the program: Florida A&M University, Morgan State University, Howard University, North Carolina A&T State University and Tuskegee University.