Academic Support

DPE offers academic support for first generation (FGC) and/or underrepresented minority (URM) engineers via the Cornell University Engineering Success (CUES) program. CUES, funded by an endowment, is an initiative that increases the retention and graduation rates of URM and FGC students to levels equal to the overall engineering student body. Starting from students’ first year and continuing through their senior year, the program implements three research proven strategies. These three interventions each address known barriers to the success of highly qualified and talented Cornell engineering students. Interventions include:

1. Enhanced Tutoring

   • STRATEGY
     • Support the success of students in the engineering majors where retention data show that additional attrition occurs
     • Increase affiliation and graduation rates with academic support
   • INTERVENTION
     • CUES provides URM and FGC students with access to tutors for the gateway courses to engineering majors and for major level courses.
   • Apply for a CUES Tutor or to become a CUES Tutor, contact cuestutoring@cornell.edu

2. Engineering Summer Math Institute (ESMI)

   • STRATEGY
     • Retain students by providing an opportunity to remain on or get back on track with a core mathematics curriculum and to gain exposure to learning through discovery in a research context
     • Math Course coupled with Collaborative Learning Groups and Research Experience
   • INTERVENTION
     • An 8-week summer program during which rising sophomores and juniors enroll in a summer math course and participate in undergraduate research.
   • Learn more or apply for ESMI

3. Spatial Visualization Skill Development

   • STRATEGY
     • The spatial reasoning course develops a lasting, foundational skill needed for success in gateway mathematics and science classes.
     • Spatial reasoning refers to one's ability to visualize, analyze, understand and work with two- and three dimensional problems and objects. Such problems pervade science, math and engineering.
   • INTERVENTION
     • 2-credit course, Spatial Visualization and Thinking for Engineers, offered to the engineering Pre-freshman Summer Program/Ryan Scholars
     • Visit Ryan Scholars to learn more

The Cornell University LSC Scholarship enables current full-time undergraduate students to graduate on schedule by providing financial support to attend Summer or Winter Session at Cornell. LSC Scholarships are for Cornell courses only, and cover the cost of tuition. Please note that co-op course tuition is not fully covered by the LSC Scholarship.

Eligibility

Although many students wish to attend Summer or Winter Session, limited funding restricts awarding of scholarships to eligible applicants who receive Cornell grant aid and demonstrate both an academic and financial need.

Priority for scholarships is given in the following order:

1. Seniors who need to fulfill requirements for graduation.
2. Upper-class students who did not successfully complete a core course.
3. Students who need Summer or Winter Session credits to place them on schedule for graduation.
4. Students who need a course to fulfill requirements for getting into a major.
5. Students who have been encouraged to moderate their course load by an advisor due to extenuating circumstances.
6. Supporting students’ participation in a broad range of academic enrichment opportunities provided by Cornell.

The LSC Scholarship is not granted for academic acceleration. 

Application Cycle

• Winter applications open in October & close in November
• Summer applications open in March and close in April

Application Process

• Unaffiliated students meet with staff from the Engineering Advising Office
• Affiliated students meet with your department’s Undergraduate Coordinator
• DPE Staff will let you know if follow-up is required

Contact

dpeng@cornell.edu