For 17 years, the UF STEPUP program has assisted minority engineering students with transitioning into college, and this year was no different
Because first-year national dropout rates for engineering programs are so high, said program coordinator Stephen Roberts, it is important to target minority engineering students early.
"We lose about half of our engineering students after the first year," he said. "I think it's a transitioning issue. Students have a hard time adjusting to everything at once, and that's what our program is focused on."
Fernando Villefuente, an 18-year-old mentor, said the college workload can come as a surprise and burden for engineering students.
"We want to help our students deal with the stress, mold their attitudes and develop their character, which will help them in a professional environment," Villefuente said. "We want everyone to be united."
UF spokesman Steve Orlando said the STEPUP program, which stands for "Successful Transition through Enhanced Preparation for Undergraduate Program," has had a lasting impact on its students' lives because it offers guidance to those who need it.
"It's a really good program," Orlando said. "Especially for those students who come from families where their parents didn't go to college, or they're the first ones to go to college, it helps."
Each year, Roberts tries to tweak the program to better suit its students, and this year, he said he wanted to stress the importance of transcending gender lines in the engineering industry.
"Yes, our group has African-Americans. Yes, we have Hispanics and Asians, and Native Americans, too, but people should understand that we are also reaching out to women," he said. "They are a minority in the industry."
Cheyenne Conrad, 17, is a member of STEPUP and plans to study environmental engineering in hopes of changing society's perceptions toward women.
"Women are naturally good problem solvers, which essentially is what engineering is," Conrad said. "I think engineering will really open up for women in the future."
Roberts hopes the program, which has 900 alumni, will help engineering students form bonds that keep them connected beyond the six-week program.
"One of the beautiful things about the program is the family bonds that are formed here," he said. "Even though they are going through a grueling schedule, have a lot of work and are operating on little sleep, they know they can rely on each other for help and support, and I think that's one of the most important things that can come out of it."
