Diversity Programs And Nuclear Engineering Education: Outreach, Retention, And Engagement

Diversity programs are paramount to nuclear engineering education. It is a process that must begin with pre-engineering programs and become an integral part of the outreach, retention, and engagement mandate of nuclear engineering programs. How does a nuclear engineering program engage in this initiative? Who are the stakeholders, and what roles do they play? How does an industry develop strategies to broaden perception of nuclear science and technology? North Carolina State’s Nuclear Engineering program has developed partnerships – on- and off-campus – to increase participation and subsequently affect the number of diverse students graduating and embarking on a nuclear engineering career. Strategies for implementation will be the focus of this paper.