The General Motors Foundation has gifted the College for Creative Studies (CCS) $1.25 million to help strengthen educational opportunities through scholarships for graduate students at CCS.
The General Motors Foundation Graduate Scholarships in Design will provide support to students from around the US and abroad through 2018, as well as fund efforts through the You Make A Difference program – which gives Detroit public school students the chance to get first-hand experience and insight into industrial design through a mentorship program.
In 2012, the GM Foundation awarded a previous $1.25 million to name the General Motors Foundation Studios, which combines CCS’s four graduate programs into one world-class learning and administrative space that will also feature a design research studio. Portions of this gift were also used to give local Detroit youth financial aid to attend CCS undergraduate programs.
“At GM, we’re committed to strengthening the city we call home,” said Ed Welburn, vice president, GM Global Design and General Motors Foundation board member. “There is so much creative energy in Detroit, and providing unparalleled academic opportunities is key to growing the city’s identity as a center for innovation design – while also attracting even more creative talent from around the world. We know our partnership will only help contribute to that success.”
CCS offers four MFA programs: Color & Materials Design, Interaction Design, Integrated Design and Transportation Design. CCS MFA programs incorporate the study of business analytics, entrepreneurship, user-centric research, and product testing methodologies into the professional practice of developing innovative solutions for real-world design challenges. They fill critical gaps, preparing graduates to pursue careers in multiple industries.
“Creativity is essential to the success of many industries and communities, and the auto industry is one of the biggest users of creative talent,” said Richard L. Rogers, president of CCS. “We’re delighted that General Motors sees the strategic value – not just for itself but for Detroit as well – in investing in creative education and that it regards CCS’s graduate programs as a valuable source of talent. This grant will help us bring the very best graduate students to the College. We’re grateful to our partners at GM for their confidence and support.”
In the last two decades alone, GM and the GM Foundation have provided more than $14 million in support to CCS.
For more information on CCS’s MFA programs, please visit: https://www.collegeforcreativestudies.edu/academics/graduate-programs-mfa
For more information about the General Motors Foundation, please visit: http://www.gm.com/gmfoundation
