Effective Partnerships to Increase Female Attainment of Engineering Bachelor's Degrees

Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 The XXXX aims to increase the number of women receiving bachelor’s degrees, specifically in mechanical and electrical engineering, two of the largest disciplines with the lowest percentage of women. To further that goal, we recently collaborated with 19 university departments of mechanical and electrical/computer engineering. Departments received small grants to support their efforts. Each department developed and evaluated its own set of project activities. Departments conducted projects related to middle or high school outreach, undergraduate retention, faculty development, and/or academic and outreach material development, review and revision. Fourteen departments participated during the 2008-2009 school year and six departments are currently participating. In the first cohort, 11 of the institutions organized outreach activities for pre-college students. Although aimed primarily at girls, both male and female pre-college students were invited to a majority of the activities. Approximately 320 students in grades K-12 participated in activities ranging from one-day workshops or events to longer camps. Over 80% of those students were female, and many indicated an interest in becoming an engineer following their participation. Thirteen of these institutions held activities that targeted undergraduate retention through engaging students in social activities, peer mentoring and serving as role mentors for pre-college students, and faculty role modeling. Approximately 140 students, about half of them women, participated in these activities. Three departments held faculty workshops, and faculty members also served as mentors for other activities. In all, approximately 70 faculty members participated in the project. In addition, 3 institutions revised recruiting or course materials. As these materials are disseminated to students, parents, and faculty, it is unknown how many individuals will see the revised material. Most of these revisions involved including more gender-neutral descriptions and pictures as well as describing student projects that appeal to a wide range of students. In the 2009-2010 school year there will be six institutions, with one participating for the second year. Three institutions will be completing academic and outreach material revisions that will affect undergraduate students and faculty, and three institutions will be completing outreach activities for K-12 students.