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A new initiative called Howard West will bring one of the nation’s largest and most prominent historically black colleges to the Google headquarters.
Starting this summer, Howard will open a satellite campus at Google HQ in an effort to bring more African-American computer-science students into the industry.
According to Business Insider, approximately 30 junior and senior computer-science majors will spend three months taking classes at the Googleplex in Mountain View, California.
Via Business Insider:
Students at Howard West will learn from current Google employees and Howard faculty with the goal of establishing themselves in an industry where black engineers are largely absent.
In 2016, for instance, just 1% of Google’s technical engineering staff identified as black. Meanwhile, 37% identified as Asian and 57% identified as white.
“We’d like to see Howard West alumni matriculate into full time positions in tech, whether it’s at Google or other companies,” Dr. Wayne Frederick, president of Howard University, tells Business Insider. “We’d like to see Howard West alumni become the tech and business leaders of tomorrow.”
As a part of the program, students at Howard West will not need to pay any extra tuition to attend and will also receive a stipend to cover living expenses. The program will happen at pre-existing Google facilities.
According to the San Fransisco Chronicle, Howard declined to disclose their investment into the Howard West program. Furthermore, Google said that it is not paying Howard and that Howard is not paying Google for the new campus. Google said its only costs are physical space and the time of its employees who will serve as teachers.
