The Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers was a student chapter of the national professional organization of the same name. The national chapter had been established in 1974 in California. The local University of Michigan, Ann Arbor chapter was recognized in 1992 and operates as part of the Society of Minority Engineering Students organization on campus.
The UM SHPE chapter's mission is to serve and empower the Hispanic engineering community; to promote academic excellence, professional and personal development, leadership, and service. They aspire to achieve this by "providing resources to assist them (UM Hispanic community) during their college career. Such resources include workshops and general body meetings, where various companies speak about career opportunities, provide resume and interviewing skills workshops, and provide students with a better understanding of what life could be like after graduation."
The SHPE chapter goals are: To achieve a sense of community among Hispanic engineering and applied sciences students at the University of Michigan and other SHPE student chapters.To unite and organize Latino Engineering students based on their various needs.To promote professional as well as cultural awareness by means of social and intellectual interaction.To seek out and recruit potential Hispanic engineering and applied students.To improve the retention of Hispanic engineering and applied sciences students at the University of Michigan.To assist University faculty and staff to learn about and appreciate Hispanic/ Latin American culture.
The chapter's mission, goals and additional cited in formation was taken from the UM SHPE website: http://www.shpe.studentorgs.umich.edu/ (accessed November 2011).
From the guide to the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (University of Michigan) records, 1990-1999, 1995-1997, (Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan)
