Through programs like the Minority Educational Institution Student Partnership Program, we bring students to our National Laboratories throughout the country.
Our Mission
Minority Serving Institutions are institutions of higher education that serve minority populations. They are unique both in their missions and in their day-to-day operations. Some of these colleges and universities are located in remote regions of the country, whereas others serve urban neighborhoods. Some minority-serving institutions are only a few decades old, whereas others, particularly the Historically Black Colleges and Universities, have been striving for more than a century to give their constituents the social and educational skills needed to overcome racial discrimination and limited economic opportunities. Check out our last strategic plan here.
Through Presidential Executive Orders and special legislation enacted over the past 20 years, minority-serving institutions have accessed Department funds and leverage other Departmental resources on behalf of their students and communities. These opportunities for minority serving institutions are a direct result of the efforts of our office and our programs.
Our Activities
Our office's work centers around creating partnerships between our National Laboratories and Minority Serving Institutions; providing outreach, technical assistance, and partnering; and strategic funding, tracking, and reporting results.
Currently, we foster partnerships and serve as advocates for Minority Educational Institutions by engaging the Department's program offices, laboratories, and field sites in establishing business relationships with these institutions, including research opportunities, grants, or cooperative agreements. The successes of these partnerships are measured by the increased capability of Minority Educational Institutions to compete effectively for grants and contracts at the Department.
In the upcoming years, we plan to strengthen our relationship with minority institutions by building a database of these institutions that includes a list of their academic specialties, particularly in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. This database will help facilitate the partnering of Department program offices and laboratories with Minority Educational Institutions, particularly with smaller, less-known minority institutions. In addition to developing these relationships, we plan to sponsor technical assistance workshops to aid Minority Educational Institutions in applying for and obtaining grants, contracts and cooperative agreements at the Department.
Education
Our office seeks to broaden the knowledge of Energy Department higher-level management and National Laboratory officials about Minority Serving Institution's capabilities to increase funding and encourage partnerships between Federal agencies and Minority Serving Institutions.
- Facilitate Department of Energy participation in Minority Serving Institution outreach conferences and workshops to highlight opportunities for MSIs at the Department and to foster partnerships between the Department, Minority Serving Institutions, and energy industries.
- Provide guidance on establishing partnerships with Minority Educational Institutions, as well as assist in developing comprehensive minority education plans.
- Work routinely with program offices to increase Minority Serving Institution participation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields. Support programs that encourage a 15% increase in participation of underrepresented students and faculty in activities at Department of Energy Laboratories and facilities.
Increase outreach and technical assistance to educate and inform Minority Serving Institutions about Energy Department funding opportunities, including a Department-wide solicitation, specifically for underrepresented minority communities.
- Develop systematic outreach and recruitment programs to identify and inform Minority Educational Institutions, community-based education organizations, and minority students about scientific and technical careers.
- Expand Energy Literacy, working with the Office of Energy Effienciency and Renewable Energy to share essential principles and fundamental concepts of energy understanding. Download the guide here.
Expand the Minority Educational Institution Student Partnership Program to increase the number of students from Minority Serving Institutions interfacing with the Department and its National Laboratories.
- Work closely with Department of Energy program offices and National Laboratories to increase the number of internship opportunities available
- Increase outreach to Minority Serving Institutions not represented in the program, specifically Hispanic Serving Institutions, Tribal Colleges and Universities, and Asian American and Pacific Islander Serving Institutions.
Create, enforce, and track a Department-wide mandate to hold program offices accountable for program funding goals, which will increase yearly by 5%
- On a monthly basis, establish communication with Energy Department headquarters and field program managers to track Minority Serving Institution goal progress for program offices at the Department.
Community Involvement
Develop capacity building and foster relationships with Minority Serving Institutions, community agencies, and community development organizations.
- Provide educational outreach in diverse communities related to energy conservation, as well as clean and renewable energy technologies.
- Assist in the development of sustainable energy centers in underserved minority communities.
Questions? Interested in partnering with us? Contact our staff.