Morrill Engineering Program

Engineering at Illinois Engineering at Illinois

Morrill Engineering Program

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Morrill Engineering Program

Formalized in 1973, the Morrill Engineering Program (MEP) was developed to attract and retain qualified students from underrepresented groups in engineering. These include African Americans, Native Americans, Latinos/as,women of all ethnicities, people with disabilities, and low-income individuals. Through MEP, students find academic support services and activities, financial assistance, scholarships, work experience, and community.

The MEP approach is broad, encompassing pre-college, college, and graduate students:

  • Outreach activities spark an interest in science and introduce students to role models as early as elementary school with field trips to the annual Engineering Open House and the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. In addition, the college's student societies visit schools for a science and engineering "show and tell."
  • The IMPRINT program exposes high school students to engineering. Promising students are paired with campus researchers to work on their projects or placed with employers to learn what practicing engineers do. Also, the Summer Research Opportunity Program, a cooperative effort among the Big Ten universities, brings prospective undergraduate and graduate students from other universities to campus, as well as students currently enrolled in the college, to work with a professor and learn about graduate study opportunities at the University of Illinois.
  • A variety of awards, merit scholarships, fellowships, and programs provide financial support for undergraduate and graduate study.
  • Once students are on campus, a support system of counseling, tutoring, workshops, and activities is available to help them adjust to campus life, succeed academically, and obtain internships and jobs.
  • Strong student organizations include the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers, National Society of Black Engineers, Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, and Society of Women Engineers, to name a few.
  • Role models and mentors--fellow students, graduate assistants, faculty, and alumni--encourage students and show by example the broad range of possibilities for engineering careers.

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If you have any questions, please contact the MEP office at 217/244-3815.