The college is dedicated to supporting the individuality of every student and encouraging the contribution that diversity of thought brings to creativity and innovation.
As part of the effort to create a community of welcome and support for people of all backgrounds, the College of Engineering offers the Innovative Drexel Engineers to Advance Leadership (IDEAL) Scholars program.
Applicants do not apply to the IDEAL Scholars Program. Financial Aid determines the eligibility of the students and determines the award for each student. Awardees will receive notification by email shortly after admission to the University and the amount will automatically appear in the financial tab on their admissions web page.
The IDEAL scholars award encourages students from all backgrounds, with demonstrated financial need, to transform into engineering leaders. The scholarship also looks to build community and a support system at Drexel Engineering.
IDEAL Scholarship recipients are granted cohort acceptance in the Drexel Engineering Leadership Transformation Academy (DELTA) Summer BRIDGE program. This dynamic two-week residential program is designed for first year and transfer students, providing robust, engaging experiences to help students transition and be successful in their first year and beyond. The program builds community and belonging as a key to success at Drexel Engineering, by providing an opportunity to form a community and relationships with other incoming students and peer mentors before Fall begins.
Award to Increase Mechanical and Electrical Engineering Diversity
The National Science Foundation has awarded Drexel Engineering the Award to Increase Mechanical and Electrical Engineering Diversity (AIME). The program supports the deep commitment of the College towards growing diversity in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and computer engineering.
Students do not apply for this scholarship. Financial assistance is based on need applicable to tuition and fees as determined by the Financial Aid office. Awardees will receive notification by email shortly after admission to the University and the amount will automatically appear on the student’s financial tab of their admissions portal. The awards are for four (4) years, with the opportunity to be prioritized for a separate scholarship in the fifth year.
AIME Scholars participants are eligible to receive:
- Financial assistance based on need
- A grant funded computer
- Travel allowance
- Scholarship to the DELTA Summer Program
- Workshops, professional development, seminars, and undergraduate research opportunities
- Personalized mentorship and advocacy in the College of Engineering
- Outreach activities fostering community and support, including participation in the production of a podcast series about the student experience
AIME Scholarship Eligibility:
- Meet the criteria for low income as defined in the terms and conditions
- Be accepted to Drexel University full or part time
- Displays demonstrated financial need
- Selected by committee based on common application (excluding GPA and SAT/ACT), essays and letters of recommendation based on:
- Demonstrated leadership ability
- Community mindedness
- Academic potential
- Academic Aspiration
To maintain eligibility students will need to remain in good academic standing (>2.0 GPA) and stay in an engineering major. Participation in the workshops is strongly encouraged, but not required.
Research Study
The professors who designed the AIME scholarship program will study the effectiveness of programming on academic performance and retention. AIME Scholars are invited to participate in the program evaluation and in a research study by Dr. Ahmad Najafi, PC Chou Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Dr. Jennifer Atchison, Assistant Teaching Professor of Mechanical Engineering, and Dr. Gail Rosen, Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
Recipients will receive a consent form for the study, and participation is not required in order to receive the scholarship or for participation in the opportunities/ workshops/ activities included in the program. The benefit of study participation is in assisting educators in shaping professional development, mentoring, and academic enhancement activities. The risk of participation is minimal, with only time investment needed, and little health or psychological risks. Students can also agree to the study and partially participate, or completely withdraw from the study at any time. Should the student withdraw from the scholarship, they are invited to stay in the study fully, partially or withdraw from the study.