Electrical engineering students under the direction of Professor and Electrical Engineering Program Coordinator Xin Wang (at right) showed off some of their work using humanoid and quadruped robots during a presentation on May 6. (Photo by Derik Holtmann)
The University of Missouri–St. Louis continues to receive strong support from the St. Louis business community as it grows its School of Engineering.
Ameren has pledged $1 million to support construction of the Ameren Electrical Engineering Lab, currently being built in the UMSL Science Complex, along with additional funding for scholarships and programming to provide experiential learning opportunities for engineering students. This investment comes at a critical time, as demand for skilled engineers continues to grow across Missouri’s energy, infrastructure and technology sectors.
Leaders from Ameren will also serve on the School of Engineering’s Founding Corporate Council and Engineering Advisory Council, helping shape curriculum and strengthen alignment with industry needs.
Additionally, Ameren will continue to invest in the UMSL Bridge Program’s Saturday and Summer Academies, which provide STEM-focused instruction and college preparation to more than 2,000 middle school and high school students and their families across the St. Louis region each year.
“Ameren’s extraordinary investment will have a profound impact on the future of our School of Engineering and in the students we serve,” Chancellor Kristin Sobolik said. “We are deeply grateful for this support as we expand opportunities for hands-on learning, strengthen connections with industry and help prepare the next generation of engineers and innovators for the St. Louis region and beyond.”
“We are committed to investing in the future of our communities and the workforce that powers them,” said Gwen Mizell, senior vice president and chief sustainability officer at Ameren. “Our partnership with UMSL will help create hands-on learning opportunities, expand access to engineering education and prepare students for in-demand careers in energy and technology.”
Hands-on learning
The School of Engineering launched last fall with more than 60 students in its inaugural freshman class. This fall, enrollment will grow with the addition of a new cohort of first-year, transfer and upper-level students preparing to meet increasing demand for skilled engineers across the St. Louis region.
As UMSL continues to build its programs and faculty, experiential learning remains central to the student experience.
The new Ameren Electrical Engineering Lab will serve as a key training ground featuring mobile student workstations, complete 0.2 kW EMS modular systems, dissectible machines, an electric power technology training system, multimeters, soldering stations and more.
Ameren is also supporting an engineering student programming fund that will help support initiatives such as math boot camps and collegiate engineering competitions – including robotics, concrete canoe, steel bridge and Formula SAE – as well as industry site visits and student organization activities. These experiences will help cultivate innovation, teamwork and problem-solving skills in environments that mirror demands common in all fields of engineering.
Fostering future engineers
The Ameren Scholarship Fund will support annual scholarships each year in perpetuity for UMSL engineering students, easing their financial burden as they prepare for their future careers.
Ameren also recognizes the importance of getting students interested in engineering and growing their skills in math and science well before they start college. That is why it is investing in the UMSL Bridge Program, which recently celebrated its 40th year expanding college access and preparing students for success.
Each year, more than 2,000 middle school and high school students from across St. Louis participate in the Bridge Program through either its Saturday or Summer Academies or after-school programs. Students receive extra instruction in math, science, writing and dialogue strategies, career and personal development and college preparation to help them develop the skills and qualifications they need for higher education.
They’re also exposed to career opportunities, including job shadowing, employer tours, career expos and professional workshops, helping them see that careers in fields such as engineering are attainable.
Since 2003, 100% of high school seniors who complete the Saturday Academy have matriculated to post-secondary education, with many pursuing STEM degrees, including engineering.
Shaping curriculum and workforce pipelines
Through participation on the UMSL School of Engineering’s Founding Corporate Council and the Engineering Advisory Council, Ameren leaders will help ensure UMSL’s programs align with ABET accreditation standards and evolving industry needs.
This partnership also creates a direct talent pipeline, giving Ameren early access to emerging engineering graduates through internships, capstone projects and career engagement.
The impact extends across the region: More than 90% of UMSL students are Missouri residents, and 75% remain in the region after graduation, helping strengthen the local workforce and economy for years to come.
