A $2.5 million grant from the Freeport-McMoRan Foundation will support the University of Arizona in developing K-12 programs that educate teachers and students about responsible mining and inspire students to pursue education and careers in the mining industry. The grant also provides scholarships for U of A mining students, enhancing access and attracting top-tier graduate students.

The grant will be shared by the U of A School of Mining and Mineral Resources, the Department of Mining and Geological Engineering and the Department of Geosciences Lowell Program in Economic Geology.

Sustainability, access and long-range preparation

The university offers one of only 13 nationally accredited mining programs, playing a key role in sustainable mining education and preparing future professionals for a workforce focused on sustainable materials and innovation.

"Our longstanding partnership with the U of A not only addresses our immediate workforce needs but also lays the groundwork for long-term success by helping middle and high school students to see pathways to a future in this critical and dynamic industry,” said Tracy Bame, president of the Freeport-McMoRan Foundation and director of social responsibility at Freeport-McMoRan.

Freeport also is committed to reaching underserved student populations to increase access to higher education and the high-quality employment opportunities, said Bame.

"We know that supporting high-quality education is the strongest lever we have for meeting future workforce needs and increasing socioeconomic opportunity and mobility for everyone," Bame said.

This investment comes as the mining industry also adapts to the increasing demand for minerals crucial to green energy technologies and products, such as cellphones, computers, medical devices and defense systems.

"This generous gift from the Freeport-McMoRan Foundation directly addresses the critical need for highly skilled engineers in the mining industry,” said David W. Hahn, the Craig M. Berge Dean of the College of Engineering. "This funding allows us to offer unparalleled opportunities for students, equipping them with the technical skills and hands-on experience necessary to lead in an evolving industry."

The portion of the grant supporting K-12 outreach programs will provide thousands of Southern Arizona students with opportunities to learn about the importance of the mineral resources that shape daily life, where those minerals come from, and modern mining's advancements in producing safe, sustainable resources for the planet's growing population. Freeport McMoRan’s support will also enable leaders to analyze data, test new methods, and refine strategies for increasing student pursuit of higher education in the mining sector.

This new grant builds on a $2.5 million award from the Freeport-McMoRan Foundation, made in 2019, which supported K-12 outreach, funded U of A student scholarships, modernized facilities for mining engineering, and expanded research capacity in the U of A Geotechnical Center of Excellence.

Freeport-McMoRan has partnered with the U of A for nearly two decades and has donated more than $6 million to the university since 2005. The company's support of the university goes back even further – Phelps Dodge, a company Freeport-McMoRan acquired in 2007, has been contributing to the university since the 1940s, when it helped fund the construction of the Mines and Metallurgy building.