The Detroit Area Pre-College Engineering Program, Inc. (DAPCEP)

Abstract

In 1976 the Detroit Area Pre-College Engineering Program, Inc. (DAPCEP) began with 245 students. The overall goal of DAPCEP was to increase the number of local middle school and high school minority (Black, Hispanic, and Native American) students who are motivated and prepared academically to choose careers in science, engineering, and other technical fields. To that end DAPCEP provides instructional and motivational activities and intervention throughout the year including the summer as well as throughout the week including Saturdays for minority students in grades 7-12. Its services cover a broad spectrum of activities, one of the characteristics of an effective program. The earliest participating institutions included the University of Michigan, Michigan State, one Detroit high school, and two middle schools. By 1989 the program had expanded to include 8 area universities (University of Detroit, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, University of Michigan-Dearborn, Michigan State University, Oakland University, Wayne State University, GMI Management Institute, and Lawrence Technological University), 24 high schools, 36 middle schools, and 2,000 students (1,300 middle school and 700 high school students). The program was initiated with a grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and it has received on-going support and funding from many different sources. The Detroit Public School System (DPSS) supports some of the program's activities and participating universities provide in-kind contributions of facilities, support staff, and other types of aid. Major corporations and businesses supply speakers, corporate financial aid, and summer employment to participants. Recently DAPCEP has received a large grant from the National Science Foundation to revise and upgrade its middle school pre-engineering curriculum and to develop videotapes and supplementary mathematics teaching materials. DAPCEP is governed by an 18-member board of directors representing DPSS, local universities, technical employers, and parents. The board has six representatives from corporations, six university representatives, three school system representatives, and three parent members. An executive director is responsible to the board for the implementation of its policies.