About the IDEA Institute

The Grainger College of Engineering strives to be a hub for innovation through opportunity, collaboration and community.

The IDEA Institute advances this mission by developing and strengthening accessible resources across all levels of our engineering community, creating environments where diverse technical approaches and problem-solving methodologies combine to address global challenges.

Expanding Engineering Excellence Through Opportunity, Collaboration and Community:

Here's how the IDEA Institute is working to build a stronger engineering ecosystem where talent and determination define success, and where the full spectrum of innovators can contribute to solving humanity's greatest challenges:

• Advancing scholarly research that evaluates and integrates access pathways and community-building approaches in engineering environments.
• Supporting faculty, staff and students with financial and scholarly resources to create and sustain initiatives that strengthen our engineering community
• Championing student-led technical organizations that expand participation in STEM, including SWE, NSBE, oSTEM and SHPE.
• Developing engineering mentorship programs connecting K-12 and graduate-level students from all backgrounds across Illinois, including  MERGE, SURGE, GEnYuS and summer camps
• Offering resources that enhance innovation through different perspectives via regular webinars, blogs, action items, and talks focused on academic and professional success.