University of Detroit Mercy Receives $3 Million Grant From Ford Motor Company
13 December 1999
University of Detroit Mercy Receives $3 Million Grant From Ford Motor Company
DETROIT, Dec. 13/ -- Ford Motor Company Fund awarded a
five-year grant to University of Detroit Mercy totaling $3 million.
Funds from the grant will be used to support six main areas including: a
center for distributed computing, UDM College of Engineering and Science's new
state-of-the art instructional center for computer science and computer
engineering students; a new global learning center, a major component of UDM
College of Business Administration's planned renovation of the business
facility; an instructional computing lab featuring latest information
technology for students and the entire University community; and a four-year
scholarship program to increase access for students and advance diversity
(minority/female) in the engineering profession. UDM is the leader in the
percentage of engineering graduates in Michigan that are minorities.
"On behalf of University of Detroit Mercy, we are pleased to receive this
grant," said UDM President Maureen A. Fay, O.P., Ph.D. "Ford's generous gift
to UDM is a strong reflection of its commitment to the education and
development of our future workforce, including many of tomorrow's leaders."
The relationship between Ford and UDM has always been a strong one with more
than 2,200 university alumni as current Ford employees, including six Ford
vice presidents.
Other areas the grant supports includes the Masters of Product Development
Program, a program UDM created with partners including Ford, Massachusetts
Institute of Technology (MIT), Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), IBM,
Xerox and other business partners. Funds will also be designated for the
Mexican American Partnership (MAP) Program, a program which provides
educational experiences for students focusing on sharing their expertise
through the U.S./Mexican industrial trade partnership. UDM and Monterey Tech
students are taught in both Detroit (U.S.) and Monterey (Mexico).
"This contribution will provide tremendous resources and opportunities to
a diverse group of university students -- students we envision as the
technical and business leaders of the future," said Jim Padilla, Ford Group
vice president of Manufacturing Operations and Ford executive sponsor for the
university.
"It is absolutely essential that we continue to build strong
public-private partnerships to invest in the future and the automotive
industry," Padilla said. "Ford's ongoing collaboration with the University of
Detroit Mercy will continue to support the development of leading-edge
automotive technologies for tomorrow."
The Ford Center for Distributed Computing will support the use of teamwork
and provide a facility to advance computing and communication technologies to
engineering and computer science students. "Ford's recent contribution to
UDM's College of Engineering and Science is its latest commitment to best
address our nation's critical challenge of training tomorrow's workforce,"
said Leo Hanifin, UDM College of Engineering and Science dean.
"Eight years-ago, Ford was UDM's first corporate partner to establish the
MAP program. Today, MAP has been a model program, attracting valedictorians
from around the country," Hanifin said. "The University also values its
relationship with Ford on the Masters of Product Development Program. The
program was developed with MIT and five other corporations to create more
effective products and product development methods for practicing engineers.
Through initiatives such as these, Ford and UDM will help Detroit remain the
world's leading engineering center," Hanifin added.
The Ford Global Learning Center will strengthen the College of Business
Administration with its global partners such as Monterey Tech, Peking
University (China), and the Jesuit University Business School Network to name
a few. "The Ford Global Learning Center will be a world class learning
facility to match the world class educational programs in the College of
Business Administration," said Gary A. Giamartino, UDM Business Administration
dean. "Both Ford and UDM have enjoyed decades of working together and reflect
many similarities. Both value employees and students with diverse backgrounds
working together. This generous grant is an acknowledgement of our strong
relationship and is a symbol of growth for the future. The Ford Global
Learning Center will bring the world of business to the corner of Livernois
and McNichols," he said.
The University of Detroit Mercy is Michigan's largest private university
offering more than 100 majors and programs in 60 academic fields. UDM has
three campuses located in downtown and northwest Detroit.