SEA Program Receives ExxonMobil Foundation Grant
The Tickle College of Engineering has received a $140,000 grant from the ExxonMobil Foundation to support the Deborah Brown Summer Engineering Advancement (SEA) Program.
Hosted by the college, the SEA program is a three-week residency that bridges the gap between the end of high school and the first year of college for incoming engineering majors. The program offers students the chance to extend their skills in calculus and engineering fundamentals while getting a head start on navigating the college environment.
SEA participants also receive mentorship from current Vols and learn how to communicate with advisors and professors. The entire program is free to all participants, and students who earn a GPA of 3.0 or higher during the course qualify for a $1,000 scholarship.
Since the beginning of SEA in 2019, over 125 first-year students have completed the program. Of those who finished, 90% advanced into Calculus 1, increasing retention rates within the engineering major. The SEA Program is instrumental in preparing students, fostering both their academic and personal development.
The ExxonMobil Foundation grant will strengthen the continued rise in retention and graduation of students through improvements in academic performance, budgetary utilization, student feedback, and strategic goal setting.
“This generous grant will enable us to better serve the needs of students,” said Travis Griffin, Fred D. Brown Jr. Director of the Dwight Hutchins Engineering Diversity Programs. “Deborah stressed to me that her bridge program taught her how to study. She said the bridge program had an impact not only her success at UT, but also was the reason she became an academic tutor.”
Since 2000, ExxonMobil and the ExxonMobil Foundation have contributed $1.6 billion to education programs and workforce development around the world.
In the United States, ExxonMobil helped launch the National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI) in 2007 to improve math and science education. The comprehensive program is designed to increase student participation and performance in Advanced Placement coursework while also providing educators with hands-on training, strategies, and resources to raise academic rigor and prepare students for advanced critical and creative thinking.
“High-quality bridge programs like SEA set students up for success as they transition from high school to college engineering programs,” said Alvin Abraham, president of the ExxonMobil Foundation. “Our support is helping to build the next generation of engineers.”
Contact
Rhiannon Potkey (865-974-0683, [email protected])