The National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering (NACME) aims to increase the representation of African Americans, Latinos and American Indians in the nation’s engineering workforce. A not-for-profit corporation with a commitment to excellence in education, NACME's mission embraces the fact that technical work force strength will determine world leadership into the new century, that the nation's economic productivity rests on the quality of the scientists and engineers we produce, and that our success depends on our ability to utilize human resources from all segments of our population.

NACME conducts research and public policy analysis, develops and operates precollege and university programs and disseminates information nationally through broadcasts, conferences, publications and the World Wide Web. Scholarship programs provide comprehensive student support, including intense academic preparation, financial aid, mentoring, professional development and internships. The goal is to effectively expand access to engineering career and also ensure the successful preparation of the students for the engineering profession. Highly leveraged partnerships with industry, government and the academic community, yield significant return on the investment made by donors.

One current initiative of NACME is the Math is Power campaign. Math Is Power is a national public service advertising campaign developed by NACME in collaboration with the Advertising Council to provide information to parents and students about the importance of advanced mathematics courses in high school. The knowledge base of algebra, geometry, trigonometry, precalculus or the equivalent in integrated curricula are crucial gatekeepers for access to a broad range of careers, including engineering, the natural sciences, accounting, investment banking and many others. Students who opt out of academic mathematics as early as eighth grade, essentially forego any future opportunity to pursue a career in such fields. The campaign is made possible by support from: IBM Corporation, the National Science Foundation, Annenberg/CPB Math and Science Project, the Advertising Council and Bozell Worldwide, Minneapolis.

NACME's successful work has received wide recognition. One of six institutions in 1996 to share the first Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring, NACME has recently been named recipient of the U.S. Department of Labor's 1998 EPIC (Exemplary Public Interest Contribution) Award.


For additional information about NACME, visit www.nacme.org

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