The program is available to incoming African American, Hispanic, or Native American engineering students at both the undergraduate and graduate level, and has three main goals:

• To encourage African American, Hispanic and Native American students to choose engineering and help them graduate with engineering degrees
• To help these students acquire the skills they need to become engineering professionals, academics, leaders and role models
• To investigate if mentoring in research centers offers advantages over mentoring in traditional engineering departments

These students are matched with research mentors at UK CAER and academic and faculty advisors at UK College of Engineering. They are given access to a number of university resources in order to develop skills needed for a successful entry into the field of engineering: study, research, and communication skills, management and outreach expertise.

Additionally, program participants have the opportunity visit to CAER and hear from principal researchers and group leaders about the work done at the center, meet possible mentors, and tour the facilities.