Communications of the ACM
Program Will Make Master's Degree in AI Available to Disadvantaged Students
Researchers from Florida Atlantic University's College of Engineering and Computer Science have received a four-year, $1 million grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation for a project to make the master's degree in artificial intelligence (AI) accessible to high-achieving, low-income students. The accelerated five-year bachelor's degree in science and master's degree in AI program will enable students to complete their degrees in AI, autonomous systems, or machine learning.
"Artificial intelligence is transforming every walk of life from business to healthcare and enabling us to rethink how we analyze data, integrate massive amounts of information, and make informed decisions that impact society, the economy, and governance," says Stella Batalama, dean of FAU's College of Engineering and Computer Science and a co-principal investigator of the grant. "This important grant from the National Science Foundation will allow us to recruit and train talented and diverse students who are economically disadvantaged and provide them with a unique opportunity to pursue graduate education in an exciting and burgeoning field."
The project team together with FAU's Office of Student Financial Aid and FAU's Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Analysis will identify college juniors with strong academic records (GPA of 3.4 or higher) in all engineering fields. Scholarships will be awarded to students following a sliding scale, with juniors receiving $4,000 for the academic year, seniors receiving $6,000 for the academic year, and master's students receiving $10,000 for the academic year.
"Research has shown that despite high academic success in the first two years of college, many high-achieving, low-income students drop out altogether or opt for a reduced course load and enter the workforce for various reasons," says Javad Hashemi, co-principal investigator, associate dean for research in FAU's College of Engineering and Computer Science, and a professor in the Department of Ocean and Mechanical Engineering. "Our new, innovative program will offer an alternative pathway that is accessible to exceptional students and provides them with the ability to earn a master's degree in a high-impact, highly-desirable, and high-paying field."
As part of the program, students will interact with the college's industrial board an as entrée into potential internships and/or full-time positions upon graduation and will participate in a special seminar series that will host industry speakers to enhance students' awareness of career possibilities. Interactions with graduate students through research projects also will enhance their awareness and understanding of graduate education and support them to become self-sufficient members of the engineering community.
From Florida Atlantic University
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