The Rutgers University Chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers was originally founded as The Minority Engineering Educational Task in 1975 (the same year as NSBE) at the College of Engineering of Rutgers University in Piscataway, New Jersey.  The main purpose of the organization is to provide academic and social support to minorities who are studying to obtain technical degrees from Rutgers University.  The organization provides both an intellectual and social medium as well as a variety of support programs including course files, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, study aids, and workshops.   From the time the organization was founded, membership has escalated from seven to over one hundred members.

Founding members include Ian Liang, Mark Buntin, Wayne Brown, Rick Barrow, Warren Birts, and Eddie Sellers.  Founding member Wayne Brown states, "There were so few of us, that when you saw someone on campus that resembled you, you smiled and went out of your way to say hello".  Consequently, during its' formative years, one of the primary functions of the organization was a support structure for people of color and a forum for us to come together as one.  Within one year, the organization: (1) established a constitution, (2)solicited an advisor, Dean Charles Marrereo, Dean of Engineering and Pharmacy, (3)elected its first executive board, and (4) established an academic support program.  The hierarchy of the organization was designed as follows: Four elected officers- President, Vice-President, Treasurer, and Secretary- and three appointed positions, with the same voting privileges as the elected officers, with the title of "Executive Board Member".  In 1976, MEET was recognized by Rutgers University as an official student organization, and could thereafter receive funding from the university to sponsor programs.

In 1979, MEET/Rutgers NSBE (formerly MEET) was officially chartered as the Rutgers University chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers.  This was done in an effort to globalize the scope and opportunities available to minority students. 

NSBE was founded in 1975 at Purdue University.  Since that time, it has grown to be the largest student-run organization in the country, supporting a membership of over 8,000 students at more 150 major universities across the country.  The Society is dedicated to increasing the number of culturally responsible Black engineers to excel academically, succeed professionally, and positively impact the community.

A few of the accomplishments of the organization include distribution of several national publications (The NSBE Magazine and the NSBE Career Engineer Newsletter), establishing a NSBE Fellows program awarded to 75 students each year, and recently holding an international conference in Ghana, West Africa.

Although our organization is a chartered chapter of NSBE, it had established its own identity prior to joining NSBE and, as a result, membership participation remained only on the chapter level aside from attendance at conferences.  However, in the past decade MEET has had several of its members hold positions in the NSBE zone and regional boards including Region One Chair, Region One Vice Chair, Pre College Initiative Chair, and New Jersey Zone Chair among others.

In 1986, with the national formation of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE), the Latino sector of the organization decided to break away from MEET, as was anticipated, and form their own SHPE chapter called the Society of Hispanic Engineers (SHE).  Since its inception, MEET/Rutgers NSBE has been primarily comprised of African-Americans, including its officers.  Therefore, as cultural awareness was gradually introduced into the organizations membership development program, there was a slight bias toward Black history.  This wasn't very prevalent during the early years, but as the organization grew and particularly after the organization affiliated with NSBE, the disparity became much more evident.  Logically, Hispanic engineers formed their own organization such that they could address their specific needs.  Presently, the two organizations have established excellent inter-relations by co-sponsoring programs and events and working together to help one another.

The formation of MEET/Rutgers NSBE has increased minority retention efforts and decreased university attrition rates among minority students.  As an organization, we must be proud of our accomplishments, but we do not allow our pride in our successes to stagnate our desire to increase them.  Your assistance can continue to provide the services that have enabled us to graduate more minorities and increase those numbers.  MEET/Rutgers NSBE strives to serve the university, the community and its' members through academic, professional, and cultural excellence.