The Lyles College of Engineering at Fresno State and State Center Community College District are sharing a $100,000 grant to increase recruitment, retention and matriculation of underrepresented students preparing for engineering and construction management careers.

The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) grant is also designed to strengthen relationships between Fresno-area public higher education institutions. It is part of the association’s national initiative to increase and improve access and success for underrepresented students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

“The Lyles College at Fresno State and the State Center Community College District are honored to be part of this national initiative,” said Dr. Ram Nunna, dean of the Lyles College of Engineering. “This partnership with APLU will result in new research, mentoring and professional development opportunities for our students.”

The grant will be used to develop a student peer-mentor network, provide research and project opportunities for students, bring industry leaders to the region for lectures and develop multi-lingual outreach programs for prospective students and their families.

Robert Fox, interim associate vice chancellor for the State Center Community College District, said the grant will expand ties with Fresno State. “Our common goal is to ensure that the diverse students in our region have an articulated and supported pathway to earn degrees in these growing fields,” Fox said.

Funding for this initiative was provided to the APLU by the Kresge Foundation. Additional grants were awarded to Alabama A&M, the University of Illinois at Chicago and University of Minnesota and partnering community colleges.

The APLU grant enhances the university’s Campaign for Fresno State, an initiative to raise $200 million in support of scholarships, faculty, programs and facilities. Through July 2012, the campaign had raised more than $191.4 million. It is the university’s inaugural comprehensive campaign and among the largest in the CSU system.

For more information, contact Kathleen Schock, the campaign communications director, at 559.278.2756 or kschock@csufresno.edu.

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