FHWA AWARDS $500,000 TO MINORITY-SERVING SCHOOLS FOR SUMMER TRANSPORTATION INSTITUTES |
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Federal Highway Administration
March 26, 1998
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, March 26, 1998
Contact: Karen Whitney Tel: (202) 366-0660
FHWA 13-98
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) today announced the award of $500,000 to support Summer Transportation Institutes at minority-serving institutes of higher learning, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities and other Minority Institutes of Higher Education.
"President Clinton said, ‘Now is the time for building the American dream,’ and these grants are in keeping with that pledge," FHWA Deputy Administrator Gloria Jeff said. "Transportation careers represent one in seven jobs and the highest paying employment sector in America. As we look to the future, we want to encourage all Americans to consider careers that will help our nation meet tomorrow’s complex transportation challenges. These summer institutes will help students see the impact and career opportunities in the transportation industry."
The Summer Transportation Institutes are four-week on-campus sessions that introduce high school students to transportation systems, innovations in transportation, management of transportation systems, construction skills, research and technology. Participating colleges and universities host the institutes and provide housing and instructors for each session. The FHWA and the South Carolina Department of Transportation manage the program.
The first institute was established in 1993 at South Carolina State University with an enrollment of 20 students. To date, 970 students have attended Summer Transportation Institutes and about $1.7 million in FHWA funds have been provided. In addition to FHWA support, the institutes receive assistance from local chapters of the Urban League, state departments of transportation, private sector companies and other federal agencies.
The Summer Transportation Institute program complements another national educational initiative, the Garrett A. Morgan Technology and Transportation Futures Program established by U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Rodney E. Slater on May 30, 1997.
Prompted by President Clinton’s strong support for education, Secretary Slater established the program with four key objectives: improving students’ math, science and technological skills; strengthening the links between the transportation sector and community colleges, junior colleges, and technical schools; expanding transportation programs at undergraduate and graduate institutions; and continuing education programs for transportation professionals. The Garrett A. Morgan program plans to reach 1 million students with its message by the end of the year 2000.
The Morgan Program is named in honor of Garrett A. Morgan (1876-1963), an African-American entrepreneur who invented the three-phased automated traffic signal and the safety hood, later known as the gas mask.
A list of colleges and universities participating in the 1998 Summer Transportation Institute Program follows:
Alabama A&M University, Normal, Ala.
Benedict College, Columbia, S.C.
The City College of New York, New York
Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta
Delaware State University, Dover, Del.
Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, Fla.
Howard University, Washington, D.C.
Jackson State University, Jackson, Miss.
Kentucky State University, Frankfort, Ky.
Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa Community College, Hayward, Wis.
Morgan State University, Baltimore
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Greensboro, N.C.
South Carolina State University, Orangeburg, S.C.
Southern University, Baton Rouge, La.
Tennessee State University, Nashville, Tenn.
University of Arkansas, Pine Bluff, Ark.
Virginia State University, Petersburg, Va.
In addition, FHWA’s Office of Civil Rights will sponsor a Summer Transportation Institute at Arizona State University, Tempe, Ariz.