Climate for Women Students at WPI Diversity & Women’s Programs

Diversity & Women’s Programs Mission To support diversity on the WPI campus by: Providing leadership in campus efforts on issues of diversity and pluralism Providing support and advocacy to women students Providing pipeline programs aimed at achieving greater diversity at WPI

Diversity & Women’s Programs Do Women at WPI Need Support and Advocacy?

Diversity & Women’s Programs Highest Percentage of Women by Department Biology/Biotech69% (151) Biomedical Engineering51% (58) Biochemistry51% (29)

Diversity & Women’s Programs Lowest Percentage of Women by Department Manufacturing20% (3) Management19% (27) Humanities18% (2) Mechanical18% (99) Physics15% (8) Electrical Engineering9% (44) Computer Science8% (44)

Diversity & Women’s Programs Quality of Life Survey Responses Student Life initiative using ACT standardized instrument in Jan, 2003 Administered to 1,895 students Stratified sample, women and minorities over-represented 39% return rate (better than expected) 264 women, 411 men responded

Diversity & Women’s Programs

Quality of Life Survey Summary In general, women are happy with their quality of life at WPI There appear to be some issues around career planning, probably due to the number of women in bio-related majors There appear to be some issues around health care provisions for women

Diversity & Women’s Programs Issues not identified by survey Perception of different admissions criteria for women Bitterness regarding different financial assistance for women Assumption that women at WPI are all bio majors (and that bio is less demanding than other majors) “RIBS” Syndrome Tokenism in the classroom

Diversity & Women’s Programs ODAWP Efforts to Support Women Students Mailing to prospective students with welcome and “Woman to Woman: Your First Year at WPI” Development of women’s brochure in progress Prospective student overnight programs Reception for incoming women students and parents during orientation

Diversity & Women’s Programs ODAWP Efforts to Support Women Students Girls’ Night Out (GNO) - Series of social events - Planned by a committee of women students - Intended to help women build same-sex friendships

Diversity & Women’s Programs ODAWP Efforts to Support Women Students Fall speaker on sexual assault Women’s History Month programming Professional development workshops (e.g. soldering, computer confidence workshops) Conduit of relevant information (e.g. aerobics, job fairs, RAD classes)

Diversity & Women’s Programs ODAWP Efforts to Support Women Students Women’s Industry Network (WIN) - Cluster networking program between women students and professionals - Industry sponsored (CISCO Systems, Compaq/HP, GE, Turner Construction, Gillette) - Dinner and topic one night each term - Clusters meet independently

Diversity & Women’s Programs ODAWP Efforts to Support Women Students Society of Women Engineers Advisor Women in Electrical and Computer Engineering Advisor Athena Project Steering Committee Community Council Sororities (as needed) Advocacy and support on an individual basis

Diversity & Women’s Programs ODAWP Efforts to Support Women Students Training initiatives: - Diversity training for student leaders (e.g. resident advisors, orientation leaders, peer learning assistants) - Inter-cultural gender communication workshop for TAs - Sexual harassment workshop for faculty and graduate students

Diversity & Women’s Programs ODAWP Efforts to Support Women Students Computer Science – Unlocking the Clubhouse Physics – Sheila Tobias Promotion of faculty postings in Faculty for the Future and other Outlets

Diversity & Women’s Programs Conclusion Women are generally happy with their experience at WPI Some women shun special programs targeted at women ODAWP efforts focus on identified needs including opportunities to make female friends and career transition issues