Carnegie Mellon University has announced a new $150 million initiative that is aiming to eliminate barriers in graduate-level education by providing full tuition and a stipend, among other benefits, to underrepresented populations pursuing a STEM education.
As part of the new CMU Rales Fellows Program, which will look to induct for its first annual cohort up to 86 graduate students in select STEM fields of study beginning in the fall of 2024, CMU is hoping to engage and create opportunities for people who have often been prevented from pursuing such levels of education, mostly due to the high financial costs of entry that are required. Borrowing language from the National Science Foundation, CMU is hoping to attract "The Missing Millions" — a group of people across the nation whose circumstances have prevented them from participating in STEM professions — to be among these students, including women, Black, Latinx and first-generation students.
It's an effort that's being made possible largely in part due to a $110 million grant to CMU from The Norman R. Rales and Ruth Rales Foundation, a Bethesda, Maryland-based nonprofit. CMU is also committing $30 million in endowed funds, and both organizations will put forth an additional $10 million for program startup costs.
But one of the world's most prestigious research universities isn't looking to only cover tuition and offer a stipend to these individuals. Rales Fellows can also expect to receive a "holistic ecosystem" of networking and developmental opportunities throughout their education and the time beyond it. These students also will receive free health care services throughout their education.
CMU President Farnam Jahanian said such an effort is of great importance to the university and the country more broadly. He also is hoping the Rales Fellows program will inspire other universities across the nation to make similar programs.
"I think ensuring that young people are given access to STEM education and careers and opportunities in our society — especially those who face, essentially, obstacles because of their background and circumstances — is a critical priority for our country," Jahanian said. "It's a priority, obviously, for the public sector and private sector, but it's an important priority for our economic prosperity and our global competitiveness."
Jahanian said he feels strongly that society needs to be more inclusive in providing access and opportunities to everyone. Such a program will do exactly that, he noted.
"We're basing this on decades of experience that we have in fulfilling our educational mission," Jahanian said. "We're highly confident that we're on the right track and the program will be successful and hopefully will be a national model for others to implement."
CMU said this effort will result in thousands of otherwise left-out individuals who will go on to obtain master's and doctorate levels of education over the next few decades.
With funding of this size, the program is expected to last "in perpetuity."
"The Rales Foundation trustees are proud to partner with Carnegie Mellon to establish the CMU Rales Fellows Program. Expanding access to a graduate STEM education will bring to the table new voices and diverse talent, which will drive the innovations and breakthroughs for our nation’s and our world’s future," Joshua B. Rales, president and trustee of the Rales Foundation, said in a prepared statement. "This initiative aligns perfectly with the creative vision of our beloved parents, Norman and Ruth, who deeply believed in extending a helping hand to others and keeping alive the American spirit of generosity and possibility."
CMU will work with the Ron Brown Scholar Program for the identification of individuals who could benefit from its new program, among other partners.
