Faculty Scholarly Dissemination Grants
Coordinated Efforts for Developing, Recruiting, and Retaining Women in Engineering
Department
School of Engineering
College
Padnos College of Engineering and Computing
Date Range
2013-2014
Disciplines
Engineering
Abstract
There are various reasons why women account for less than 30% of the science and engineering workforce. These reasons include a lack of female role models, gender stereotyping, and less family-friendly flexibility in the STEM fields. In order to develop an interest in the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields and recruit females into these fields, Grand Valley State University (GVSU) has been running a Science, Technology, and Engineering Preview Summer (STEPS) Camp for female students entering the seventh grade. The STEPS Camp provides female role models in the STEM fields, dispels stereotypes, and helps foster an interest in science, technology, and engineering. One effort used to retain females that enroll in the engineering program at GVSU is the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) student chapter. The SWE student group provides the female engineering students with a welcoming atmosphere and sense of camaraderie. Since the student chapter was started at GVSU it has been growing in size and vitality.
Conference Name
ASEE - North Central Section Annual Conference
Conference Location
Rochester, MI
ScholarWorks Citation
Cornelius-Reece, Tara and Maas, Sara, "Coordinated Efforts for Developing, Recruiting, and Retaining Women in Engineering" (2014). Faculty Scholarly Dissemination Grants. 944.
https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/fsdg/944
