A Systems Approach for Increasing Underrepresented Engineers Thursday, October 8, 2009 CEWD Summit C. Diane Matt, WEPAN Executive Director
What is WEPAN? National not for profit organization Professionals running campus based women in engineering (WIE) initiatives Recruit, retain, graduate women engineers 600+ members on ~150 campuses Reach 43,890 female engineering students per year Eager to work with employers
What Does WEPAN Do? Mission: systems focus transform the system of engineering education to attract and graduate more women Translates research into practice to increase WIE program effectiveness nationwide
Give Me an Example Online knowledge center focused entirely women in engineering Publicly accessible, free wepanknowledgecenter.org Find knowledge, contribute knowledge, connect to others working on similar problems Show and Tell in the exhibits
WEPAN Knowledge Center
How Can You Tap Into WEPAN? Visit Knowledge Center Join WEPAN Attend conference Connect with members on campus Become a corporate partner Thank you, American Gas Association!
The Big Picture Lots of talent is out there, lots never undeveloped Only a sliver of the talent is prepared for and attracted to engineering Especially women and students of color The system barely keeps us in stasis
Freshman Engineering Enrollments: No Progress for Women 1 2 0,0 0 0 Fre sh m a n E n g in e e r in g E n ro llm e n t b y S e x 1 0 0,0 0 0 8 0,0 0 0 6 0,0 0 0 4 0,0 0 0 2 0,0 0 0 0 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 W o m e n M e n To ta l S o u rce : C P S T, d a ta d e rive d fro m E n g in e e rin g W o rkfo rce C o m m is s io n 2008 WEPAN, www.wepan.org, prepared by CPST, www.cpst.org Developed by WEPAN for member use only.
Progress Slows for Underrepresented Minority Freshmen in Engineering 6 0,0 0 0 Fre shm a n E ngine e ring E nro llme nt by R a ce /Ethnicity 5 0,0 0 0 4 0,0 0 0 3 0,0 0 0 2 0,0 0 0 1 0,0 0 0 0 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 Africa n Ame rica n s H is p a n ics N a tive Ame rica n s As ia n s Fo re ig n N a tio n a ls So u rce : C P ST, d a ta d e rive d fro m E n g in e e rin g W o rkfo rce C o mmis s io n 2008 WEPAN, www.wepan.org, prepared by CPST, www.cpst.org Developed by WEPAN for member use only.
U.S. Undergraduate Engineering Enrollment by Sex & Race/Ethnicity 20.0 18.0 16.0 Percent 14.0 12.0 10.0 8.0 6.0 4.0 2.0 W ome n African Ame rican Hispanic Asia n Native American 0.0 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 Source: CPST, data derived from Engineering W orkforce Commission 2008 WEPAN, www.wepan.org, prepared by CPST, www.cpst.org Developed by WEPAN for member use only.
School Age Population Ages 5 to 13 by Race/Ethnicity July 2 0 04 T wo o r M o r e Ra c e s, 0.0 2 8 H is p a n ic, 0.1 9 N a tiv e A m e r ic a n, 0.0 1 2 A s ia n / Pa c if ic I s la n d e r, 0.0 4 1 Bla c k, 0.1 5 6 W h ite, n o n H is p a n ic, 0.5 9 S o u rce : C P S T, d a ta d e rive d fro m U.S. C e n s u s Bu re a u, P o p u la tio n D ivis io n 2008 WEPAN, www.wepan.org, prepared by CPST, www.cpst.org Developed by WEPAN for member use only.
What Mathematics Courses Are U.S. High School Students Taking? Percentage of Public and Private High School Graduates T aking Selected Mathematics Courses in High School, 2005 Ame rica n India n/ Alaska Na tive Asian/ Pacific Islander Hispa nic Black W hite Fema le Ma le 0.0 10.0 20.0 30.0 40.0 50.0 60.0 70.0 80.0 90.0 Alge bra II Ana lysis/pre ca lculus Calculus Source : CPST, da ta derived from Na tiona l Ce nte r for Education Statistics 2008 WEPAN, www.wepan.org, prepared by CPST, www.cpst.org Developed by WEPAN for member use only.
Males Far More Likely to Plan to Major in Technical Fields Than Are Females 30.0 Males 30.0 Females 25.0 20.0 15.0 25.0 20.0 15.0 Computer Science Physical Sciences Engineering 10.0 10.0 5.0 5.0 0.0 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2007 0.0 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2007 Source: CPST, data derived from Higher Education Research Institute 2008 WEPAN, www.wepan.org, prepared by CPST, www.cpst.org Developed by WEPAN for member use only.
What s Needed for Impact A connected view of the larger challenge A desire for enduring improvement Leadership Willingness to bridge gaps and barriers
A Role for Energy Utilities Systems thinking Dedicated leadership across the usual boundaries Resources: people, expertise, vision, creativity, financial Leverage existing community networks and build partnerships
A Model to Build On Association of Engineering Advisory Boards (Texas) Members from most TX engineering schools Study to calculate economic value of increased engineering graduation Continuous Legislative Action Scholarships, summer Programs Grants for science teacher preparation Radio/TV exposure
Thank You! Women in Engineering ProActive Network www.wepan.org wepanknowldegecenter.org Diane Matt dmatt@wepan.org 303 871 4643