PITT EXCEL PROGRAM
Pitt EXCEL is a comprehensive program committed to the recruitment, retention and graduation of academically excellent engineering undergraduates, particularly individuals from groups traditionally underrepresented in the field. Program activities include academic counseling, study sessions, engineering research and mentoring opportunities, graduate school preparation and career development workshops, as well as a two-week intensive study skills,
math and science review session for pre-freshmen.
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Goals of the Pitt EXCEL Program
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Collaborate with the PECAP Pre-College Component, the Freshman Program Office, and the Office of Admissions & Financial Aid in order to increase the number of students from underrepresented groups enrolled in the
Swanson School of Engineering
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Provide students with support activities and enrichment opportunities that will make them marketable to corporations and graduate schools.
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Provide community building activities that will help to develop a supportive and diverse peer network.
Services provided by the Pitt EXCEL Program
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Summer Engineering Academy (SEA)
SEA's main goal is to help students make the adjustment to the demands of college life and prepare them for the rigors of an engineering curriculum.
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EXCEL Tutorial Center
The EXCEL Tutorial Center offers tutoring to all students in the School of Engineering, with primary focus on the freshmen engineering curriculum and sophomore level courses. Upperclassmen undergraduate students provide both individual and group tutoring sessions.
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Advising/Counseling
EXCEL students will meet one-on-one with the program counselor on a bi-weekly basis to discuss strategies to maximize their academic potential. Students are also encouraged to talk about any personal, financial, and career related concerns that may hinder their academic achievement. Typical areas of discussion include:
- Time Management
- Study Skills
- Test Taking
- Stress Management
- Goal Setting
- Adjustment to College Life
Students also are informed of opportunities that exist on campus and reminded of important dates that come up during each academic semester.
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The Summer Research Internship (SRI) focuses on the preparation of underrepresented students for graduate education and professional careers in engineering. The goals of the program are to identify motivated students and match them with faculty mentors. The mentors assist the students through the completion of a
summer research project.
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Career Development
The EXCEL Program, in conjunction with the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE), and Society of Women Engineers (SWE),
conducts workshops that help prepare students for their careers as
professional engineers. From resume writing to preparations for an
interview, students develop the skills needed to succeed.
