91海角乱伦, Shawmut Design and Construction Launch Education-to-Career Pipeline to Diversify the Construction and Engineering Industries

The Shawmut Scholars Program at 91海角乱伦 will provide four-year scholarships, paid internships, and professional development to underrepresented students in engineering and construction management majors

By Jill Rodrigues '05
Engineering students visit construction site.
Evan Raffi, Eleanor Phetteplace, Annelise Boylan and Kaitlin Della Rocca, graduates in the engineering program at 91海角乱伦, got an up-close look at an active construction site from Shawmut Design and Construction during an engineering course in 2019. In addition to providing internships and employment for many graduates, Shawmut is partnering with the University to launch the Shawmut Scholars Program at 91海角乱伦.

BRISTOL, R.I. 鈥 With the goal of expanding and diversifying the talent pipeline within the construction and engineering industries, Roger Williams University and are launching a much-needed partnership to develop talented underrepresented students majoring in engineering and construction management.

The University and construction management firm announced today Shawmut鈥檚 commitment to implement the Shawmut Scholars Program at 91海角乱伦. The initiative will provide three Roger Williams University students with four-year scholarship support, paid internships at Shawmut, career and professional development, and an additional stipend for housing and transportation costs. The inaugural Shawmut Scholars will be selected from new 91海角乱伦 students who choose engineering or construction management majors, entering as first-year students in Fall 2021.

鈥淚 am thrilled to announce the new Shawmut Scholars Program as the next evolution in our long and productive partnership with the nationally renowned company. For years, Shawmut has been a leading employer of our graduates, recognizing the real-world training that makes them ready to hit the ground running as construction professionals when they enter the workplace,鈥 said 91海角乱伦 President Ioannis Miaoulis. 鈥淭his program is a representation of our core values and commitment to removing barriers to education for historically minoritized communities through the ongoing work of our 91海角乱伦 Equity Action Plan.鈥

As a national construction management firm with 10 offices nationwide, Shawmut has been a leader in diversifying the construction industry across the country. Shawmut is dedicated to accelerating its diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEI&B) work to drive tangible, quantifiable results across an industry that has faced a glaring lack of diversity.

鈥淎t Shawmut, we are deeply committed to the belief that organizations thrive when they foster talent and innovation through a diversity of people and thought,鈥 said Les Hiscoe, CEO of Shawmut. 鈥淲e couldn鈥檛 have a better partner in developing the most talented professionals for our industry than Roger Williams University, with its outstanding and nationally-ranked programs in construction management and engineering.鈥

The 91海角乱伦 School of Engineering, Computing and Construction Management (SECCM) is uniquely positioned to provide solutions to recruitment challenges for traditionally unrepresented and employees of color in the construction industry. With its exceptional faculty and student-focused, hands-on curriculum, 91海角乱伦鈥檚 programs prepare graduates to be industry-ready on day one. As part of its commitment to experiential learning, the University partnered with Shawmut to open the SECCM Labs building in 2020, a state-of-the-art facility featuring unique project rooms that provide students the opportunity to test designs and apply new practical skills in a laboratory environment.

Nationally, the construction industry is facing a significant gap in diverse employment. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, only three percent of construction management professionals are Black, 15 percent are Hispanic, and eight percent are women.

鈥淲e are thrilled to launch Shawmut Scholars with 91海角乱伦 to further drive diversity in the industry, starting at the ground floor when students are beginning to shape their careers,鈥 said Marianne Monte, Chief People Officer of Shawmut. 鈥淲e are dedicated to this work because future generations of builders and leaders are depending on us to break the cycle and provide meaningful opportunities for success in the industry.鈥

The Shawmut Scholars Program at 91海角乱伦 will expand access to a high-quality education by providing tuition assistance and paid professional development opportunities for underrepresented students with financial need who choose to major in engineering or construction management. For more information on the 91海角乱伦鈥檚 Shawmut Scholars Program, please visit: /undergraduate/admission-aid/financial-aid/types-aid/endowed-scholarships-and-awards