Who We Are

The ESS department aims to increase the retention and graduation rates for students in every field within the School of Engineering (SOE). The ESS staff at the University of New Mexico supports students through academic advisement, outreach, recruitment, tutoring, scholarships, pre-college and multicultural engineering programs such as: the Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) Program, Native American Programs College of Engineering (NAPCOE), the Summer Transportation Institute (STI), and the Pre-College Science and Math Program.

Several science & engineering minority student organizations are also supported by ESS. These include: the Hispanic Engineering and Science Organization, the American Indian Science and Engineering Society, the National Society of Black Engineers and the Society of Women Engineers.

ESS also provides tutoring services and study groups for individuals in math and higher level engineering courses. These services are provided by undergraduate and graduate students who have taken the courses and can provide new students with first-hand knowledge. Tutoring schedules are posted within the first two weeks of the Fall and Spring semesters.

History

In 2004, two integral departments within the School of Engineering merged together to form Engineering Student Services: The Minority Engineering Program (MEP) and the Engineering Student Programs (ESPO). The merging of these two departments was an important move as it allowed the consolidation of energy and resources.

A vast majority of our minority engineering programs started offering their services to engineering and science students since the 1970's, each in an effort to seek funding to establish a retention and recruitment program for minority students. The primary focus was, and continues to be, to emphasize community building among students by implementing the following:

Cluster minority students into common courses
Create structured study groups for clustered minority students
Provide students with a comprehensive engineering orientation course
Develop a student study center
Develop leadership skills that will lead to successful internships or
employment