The
ORNL Research Connection
UT-Battelle, LLC, has
developed a new outreach initiative for Historically Black Colleges
and Universities (HBCUs) and minority educational institutions (MEIs).
The HBCU/MEI Outreach Initiative is a key action on the agenda of
the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). An HBCU/MEI Senior Management
Team, championed by the ORNL Deputy Director for Science and Technology,
has been formed to ensure that the goals of this outreach initiative
are realized. The Office of Science and Engineering Education at
Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) administers ORNL’s
programs for summer students and university faculty members. Coordination
of this initiative with these and related programs at ORAU and with
related programs at ORNL is facilitated by the ORNL Small Business
Programs Manager. The HBCU/MEI Outreach Initiative comprises three
activities:
- Opportunities for
summer faculty research
- Student internships
- Outreach programs
that encourage visits to HBCU/MEI campuses and other interactions
The purpose of the HBCU/MEI
Outreach Initiative is to firmly establish ORNL as "Best in
Class" among DOE laboratories for partnerships with HBCUs and
MEIs. Goals.
The HBCU/MEI Outreach
Initiative is part of a plan with the following goals:
Goal 1.
Establish an HBCU/MEI summer faculty research program. ORNL is launching
a program that will bring HBCU/MEI faculty members to the Laboratory
for 10 weeks of summer research. The aim is to increase ongoing
research interactions between ORNL staff and HBCU/MEI faculty.
Goal 2. Increase
the number of student interns from HBCUs and MEIs through ORAU.
ORNL is working to offer more summer research appointments to students
from HBCUs and MEIs.
Goal 3. Establish
a coordinated HBCU/MEI program at ORNL. ORNL is linking its outreach
efforts and increasing coordination of activities across the organization.
Goal 4. Strengthen
specific programs of focused outreach to HBCUs and MEIs. ORNL is
expanding existing programs, creating an open-door policy for HBCUs
and MEIs, and improving coordination with activities such as workshops
and teleconferences.
Goal 5. Maintain
subcontracting to HBCUs and MEIs as a central part of the program.
ORNL will continue to use the level of subcontracting with HBCUs/MEIs
as a measure of the success of its efforts in building collaborative
relationships.
