TWU Receives Grant for Recruiting, Retaining Computer Science Students

4/23/02

DENTON — Texas Woman's University is receiving Texas Engineering and Technical Consortium/Texas Technology Workforce Development Grants Program funding to recruit and retain computer science and engineering students, state officials announced.

TWU will receive $31,060 in TETC/TTWDGP funding to launch the Infinity Project on the Denton campus. An additional $26,440 could be awarded at a later date.

“Texas and the nation have a need for engineers and skilled technical workers. This grant will allow Texas Woman's University to help close that gap,” said TWU Chancellor and President Dr. Ann Stuart.

TWU will use its funding to purchase computer hardware and software and incorporate the Infinity Project into the existing computer science curriculum, as well as other courses. The project's goal is to recruit current TWU students as computer science majors and retain existing computer science students, said Dr. Don Edwards, chair of the TWU Department of Mathematics and Computer Science.

The Infinity Project began in 1998 when officials at Texas Instruments wanted not only to come up with a new way to help meet the company's growing demand for engineers and technicians, but also to change the paradigm for how technology and engineering concepts are taught. The project was launched with Southern Methodist University initially at the high school level.

Curriculum for the Infinity Project focuses on math and science fundamentals of the information age and teaches students how engineers create and design the technology around them, such as cell phones, MP3 players and other digital devices.

The Texas Engineering and Technical Consortium, a public-private partnership, was created by the Texas Legislature to promote education in the engineering and computer science fields. An ongoing state and nationwide shortfall of skilled engineers could impact economic growth, industry leaders and lawmakers warn.

TETC/TTWDGP grant funding comes from monies earmarked by the Legislature and contributions from high-tech companies, including Texas Instruments, Advanced Micro Devices, Hewlett-Packard, Motorola, Sabre and Intel.

TETC received 55 grant proposals from universities statewide and funded 33 projects.

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For Further Information Contact:

Roy Kron
Director of News and Information
Tel: (940) 898-3456
e-mail: rkron@twu.edu