MACON – Mercer University School of Engineering’s chapter of the Institute of Industrial Engineers (IIE) was one of only five schools in the country to receive a Chapter Development Grant from the national IIE organization. The grant is designed to assist chapters with recruitment and retention of its members.
Mercer IIE Chapter President, Ralph Dorsainvil, of Duluth, filed the chapter’s application for the grant. Dorsainvil is the son of Andre and Marie Myrtha Dorsainvil.
“My feeling on learning we received this grant was pure joy,” the industrial engineering student said. “Our IIE chapter has come a long way since I have been at Mercer. To continue improving, my chapter needed assistance from the national organization.”
In order to receive the grant, Dorsainvil presented a proposal to the Institute of Industrial Engineers national organization, outlining the Mercer chapter’s budget, size and how the chapter would use the grant. The chapter plans to use the $600 grant to increase awareness of the chapter and encourage new members to join by designing t-shirts and sending members to an upcoming IIE conference. The Mercer engineering students are also considering using the funding to begin an initiative in which they will travel to area high schools and talk with students about engineering.
“It is an honor to be selected as one of five university chapters in North America to receive this award,” said Dr. Scott Schulz, an assistant professor of industrial and mechanical engineering at Mercer and the chapter’s faculty adviser. “We trust this award will help us grow our student chapter and increase the awareness of our presence on campus.”
Named one of the top engineering schools in the Southeast by U.S. News & World Report for the past six years, Mercer University School of Engineering is known for producing graduates ready to work in the industry and government. The innovative Mercer School of Engineering curriculum emphasizes teamwork as well as opportunities to gain hands-on experiences. Mercer engineering graduates are known for their strong communication skills, as Mercer is one of few engineering institutions in the nation to house a Technical Communication Department within the Engineering School.
###
