SWE Government Relations & Public Policy Committee Meeting October 12, 2011 SWE 11: the Annual Conference for Women Engineers 1
GRPP- Who Are We? Government Relations & Public Policy (GRPP) Committee: Chair: Karen Horton, P.E. Chair-Elect: Alexis McKittrick, Ph.D. GRPP Board and HQ Contact: Betty Shanahan, SWE Executive Director and CEO Part-time Representation in Washington: Melissa Carl, SWE Washington Representative 2
Overview of SWE s FY12 Public Policy Goals and Focus Areas Karen Horton, P.E. Chair, Government Relations and Public Policy Committee 3
SWE Public Policy Goals Long-term goal: To be the STEM gender equity power broker at the federal level. FY12 priority Lead the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and diversity communities to engage SWE members, other professional societies, and policy makers on how Title IX can be applied to STEM fields 4
SWE s History in Public Policy 1954 U.S. Department of Labor Women s Bureau Bulletin Employment Opportunities for Women in Professional Engineering 1962 conference on Women in Professional Engineering co-sponsored by the Executive Office of the President of the United States 1973 support for the Equal Rights Amendment 5
SWE Public Policy Focus Areas Public Policy Focus Areas: Title IX and STEM o SWE is the lead organization o Primary area of focus for SWE s policy efforts K-12 STEM Education o SWE is a supporting organization others lead this effort Affirmative Action / Equal Opportunity Fills a gap in policy statements related to women in the non-academic workforce o SWE will use this statement primarily for educational or informational purposes for our members 6
Why Title IX and SWE? Other STEM organizations focus on policy issues such as R&D, STEM education, and energy. While some of these organizations do support policy initiatives related to diversity, there is a lot of misinformation (and fear) about Title IX and STEM in the STEM community. SWE has had a unique opportunity to educate other STEM organizations and policymakers about how Title IX can be used as a proactive tool to increase diversity in STEM departments. To date, no other engineering society is doing this. SWE is partnering with the Association for Women in Science (AWIS) and the American Association of University Women (AAUW) on this effort. 7
FY11 SWE Policy Impact Increased awareness on Capitol Hill for the need for greater diversity in STEM Second annual diversity-focused Capitol Hill Day organized by SWE entitled Diversity and Inclusion Fuels Innovation in STEM (04/13-14/11) Twenty eight STEM and diversity organizations co-sponsored the event. Over 65 attendees, which included 20 SWE leaders. 8
FY11 SWE Policy Impact SWE providing input to Congress and the Administration FY11 President Siddika Demir sent a letter to bill sponsors endorsing the Engineering Education for Innovation Act (03/18/11) SWE Executive Director Betty Shanahan was invited to present testimony to a President s Council of Advisors of Science and Technology Policy working group meeting related to the upcoming higher education report. (05/17/11) FY12 President Melissa Tata sent a letter to NSF and the National Science Board about SWE s concern about the changes to broadening impacts. (07/14/11) 9
FY11 SWE Policy Impact Recognition of SWE as a resource Presidential Message for SWE s 60 th Anniversary President Obama sent anniversary greeting to those SWE members gathered at WE10 (11/04/10) FY 11 President Siddika Demir was a featured speaker at AIMBE Women in Engineering luncheon (02/22/11) SWE was an invited VIP at NASA/ White House Women s History Event Semahat Demir, SWE BOD, and Carl attended. (03/16/11) 10
FY11 SWE Policy Impact Co-sponsored two Congressional briefings: the first was organized by NSTA and ACS, and was related to the NAE minorities in STEM report; the second was organized by ASME, and was a STEM 101 briefing for new Members of Congress and their staff (2/15/11 and 3/10/11) 11
FY12 Off to a Great Start! SWE Past President Siddika Demir, SWE Outstanding Graduate Collegiate Prinda Wanakule, and SWE President Melissa Tata at the White House for NSF s announcement of new family friendly policies 12
How GRPP Members & SWE Leaders Can Get Involved Karen Horton, P.E. Chair-Elect, Government Relations and Public Policy Committee 13
Congressional Visits Day 2011 Second annual diversityfocused Capitol Hill Day organized by SWE entitled Diversity and Inclusion Fuels Innovation in STEM (04/13-14/11) Twenty eight STEM and diversity organizations cosponsored the event. Over 65 attendees, which included 20 SWE leaders. 14
Training for SWE Members GRPP is holding a training session on SWE s public policy issue areas on Friday at 2:45 PM. Hope to see you there! 15
Senate Mega Issue To what extent and in what areas should SWE venture beyond STEM to issues relevant to SWE's mission in the area of public policy? 16
GRPP Member Survey Communication Opportunities to Volunteer Congressional Visits 17
Questions? Thank you for your time and service to the GRPP Committee! Hope to see you at the Friday training session at 2:45 PM. 18