ECCO Center
ECCO Center
The Engineers of Color Creating Opportunities (ECCO) Center at RIT is dedicated to expanding the representation of AALANA engineers and preparing students for leadership roles within the engineering profession.
The ECCO Center —Engineers of Color Creating Opportunities—provides diversity initiatives and programs devoted to increasing the number of underrepresented African American, Latino American and Native American (AALANA) student engineers in the college. Supporting successful graduation rates, providing community service opportunities, and preparing these students for leadership roles within the engineering profession.
A series of programs and events throughout the academic year will be committed to enhancing the educational experiences of AALANA engineering students while providing student networking and relationship building opportunities.
History
The African American, Latino American, and Native American (AALANA) population of students in engineering have traditionally been underrepresented. The Kate Gleason College of Engineering at RIT noted, 5.4% Hispanic, 6.9% Asian, 3.1% African-American, 1.8% mixed race, 24% unknown, .2% American Indian in the 2014 fall enrollment class. ECCO exists to address the underrepresentation of these populations of students, with a particular focus on African American and Hispanic students in engineering.
K-12 Outreach
ECCO Experience
The ECCO Experience is a fun, informative, and social overnight experience for accepted Kate Gleason College of Engineering African American, Latin American, and Native American (AALANA) engineering students held in advance of the RIT Accepted Student Open Houses.
Friday, March 31, 2023, 10 a.m. - Saturday, April 1, 2023, 8 a.m.
We will cap each session at 60 participants. Registration is required. We ask participants to register and submit questions to us by using this form.
National Engineers Week Family Day
Held annually during National Engineers Week in February, students in grades 5-12 are invited to visit the Kate Gleason College of Engineering labs and facilities to engage in hands-on projects and experiments. KGCOE faculty and staff lead engaging sessions on various engineering topics including product development, human centered design, and metallic surface structures.
Thursday, February 23, 2023
9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
If you are interested in attending or would like more information, please contact the ECCO Center at ECCOCenter@rit.edu or 585-475-2162.
Partnership Programs
Atlanta University Center Dual Engineering Program
The mission of the Atlanta University Center Consortium Dual Degree Engineering Program is to significantly increase the number of minority engineers who are globally aware, socially engaged, and well equipped for scientific, technological, engineering, and mathematical careers. In collaboration with a wide array of corporations, engineering schools, and other partners, the Consortium-wide program offers services that complement those provided by its member institutions: Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College and Spelman College. The Atlanta University Center Consortium is the world’s oldest and largest association of historically Black colleges and universities.
The Consortium is a vibrant intellectual community with a long tradition of scholarship, service and community engagement. Designed for students at select liberal arts colleges who decide to enter the field of engineering, and who, after completing three years (through the junior year) at their liberal arts college, transfer into most of RIT’s Kate Gleason College of Engineering programs. Most students accepted for this program have achieved at least a B average, with grades of A or B in their calculus, calculus-based physics, and chemistry courses.
