The Minority Engineering Program, a student organization that tries to advance minority education, is attempting to include the entire SIUC campus in their program, organization members said.

Member of the program and president of Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers Jason Nanay, said the program provides many programs and workshops not only for engineers, but for other students on campus.

We are trying to bring a lot of community awareness and career growth to the area, Nanay said. We try to build unity with the groups and leadership in the individuals, so we have a lot of workshops for the professional field.

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Nanay just returned from the National Student Leadership Training Institute where, as a group, he and four other student presidents in engineering from across the nation took second place for a speech on the revitalization of student organizations. Nanay said he brought much of what he learned from there and other places to the program.

We give high school lectures on professional concerns, Nanay said. Also, we are trying to use the University resources to show students what we can offer them.

Dean James L. Evers of the College of Engineering said that he finds the program to be very worthwhile and valuable for the campus.

The program has been very successful in attracting excellent students, Evers said. We have seen them go on to excellent work in their field.

Evers said he feels his position is that of a resource person. However, he sees a lot going on inside the program.

The primary value I see is a place where students can come together to discuss their views and work towards common goals, Evers said. I think MEP shows what can be done in any area, if a need exists the engineering department in particular, because of the low number of students represented.

Assistant to the Associate Dean Bruce C. Chrisman said he has seen the program move a long way and expects it to continue to grow.

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The program has grown from 40-some students in 1986, an now that number is around 156 minority students in the College, Chrisman said. I expect those numbers to continue on an upward trend.

Chrisman said the only problem he sees is the need for a permanent director of the program.

We have already done one search for a new director that was not successful, Chrisman said. We have begun another search, but realistically it will probably take another year before a new director will be found.

As for what will happen until a new director is found, everyone remains optimistic.

I think we need to keep enrollment up and provide services for everyone interested, Nanay said. The appointment of a new director will certainly help the program, and it should be able to branch out and keep serving the students in a positive manner. I am looking forward to working with the College and University this semester.