IUPUI underserved youth IT program receives $100K

INDIANAPOLIS (Inside INdiana Business) — The Indiana University School of Informatics and Computing at IUPUI has received another $100,000 grant from New York-based investment banking firm JPMorgan Chase to expand IT education for high school students in underserved populations.

The students take part in IUPUI’s Informatics Diversity-Enhanced Workforce, an initiative that offers educational and career support to students-in-need and prepare them for the information technology jobs of the future.

IUPUI said this latest installment builds on the firm’s previous support, which is nearing $500,000.

“JPMorgan Chase has been a strong supporter of the iDEW program since the very beginning, for the past five years,” said Mathew Palakal, senior executive associate dean at the School of Informatics and Computing.

Last year’s program enabled 127 iDEW students to participate in summer jobs or internships and the goal for 2020 is to increase that number.

“We know that young people depend on summer jobs to provide critical income to their families. JPMorgan Chase is working with partners like IUPUI to ensure that young people continue to find opportunities for work-based learning experiences and help prepare them with the skills they need for jobs of the future,” said Jim Macdonald, Market Manager for Indiana and Kentucky for J.P. Morgan Private Bank.

The iDEW program has served nearly 1700 students in eight area high schools to date. IUPUI said 72% of graduates from the program attend a 2- or 4-year college with 75% of those pursuing a STEM degree.