TAKING THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED– APRIL 7, 2016 LORA LEIGH CHRYSTAL, DIRECTOR

Overview Why diversity mattersPathway to Engineering/STEM degreesWhy programs for women in engineeringWiSE at Iowa State

Why diversity matters Diverse teams drive innovation Business Case Diversity yields economic growth Economic Case Diversity enables equal access Moral Case

Educational Path for Women in Engineering

Too many young women leave STEM degree paths during their first 4 semesters despite their good academic standing Solving the Equation, AAUW, 2015

Why do women not aspire to or leave engineering? MicromessagingReshma Saujani: Perfectionism vs. BraveryLack of Role ModelsIsolationSelf-EfficacyGrowth vs. Fixed MindsetChanging the Culture: Climate vs. Individuals

Barbie: I Can Be A Computer Engineer Micromessaging

Why do women not aspire to or leave engineering? MicromessagingReshma Saujani: Perfectionism vs. BraveryLack of Role ModelsIsolationSelf-EfficacyGrowth vs. Fixed MindsetChanging the Culture: Climate vs. Individuals

ISU - Overview Focused on K-12 outreach and undergraduate student success for women in science, technology, engineering, and math fields University-wide program founded in 1986 Program Reach ◦ 10,000 K-12 participants from across the state annually through our Taking the Road Less Traveled Career Conferences and Student Role Model Programs ◦ 500+ students actively engaged in the first 2-years ◦ Over 5500 women in STEM who receive updates and information from WiSE ◦ Collaborate and support STEM departments in efforts to improve climate within departments ◦ Impacting university, state and national STEM initiatives

Community Building Isolation, Self-efficacy, Role Models

Community Building Academic Support Growth mindset, Self- efficacy

Professional and Leadership Development Micromessaging, Implicit Bias, Fixed Mindset, Self-Efficacy, Role Models, Culture

Improving Climates Micromessaging, Implicit Bias, Fixed Mindset, Self-Efficacy, Role Models, Culture

Results of participation Women who participate in the WiSE First-year Learning Community are twice as likely to remain in a STEM major as compared to women who do not participate in a learning community when controlling for ACT & HS GPA. -Office of the Registrar, ISU present WiSE Female STEM Female other LC Other STEM Female Total STEM Female STEM Male All Students # of stds1, ,17012,11614,286 4-Yr Grad24%20%17%22%17%18% 5-Yr Grad58%51%36%52% 49% 6-Yr Grad62%54%40%56%52%53%

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