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Session 2570

Developing Collaboration and Leadership within Minority Engineering Student Societies

Maria A. Reyes, EIT Mary Ann McCartney Dr. Mary R. Anderson-Rowland

Arizona State University

Abstract The Arizona State University Office of Minority Engineering Programs (OMEP) was established in 1993. In Fall 1993, the OMEP, in conjunction with the three minority student organizations developed a formal collaborative relationship. The result was the creation of the Coalition of Engineering Minority Societies - CEMS, which is comprised of the three minority engineering student organizations: the American Indian Science and Engineering Society - AISES; the National Society of Black Engineers - NSBE; and the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers - SHPE.

In the past, the three student organizations had only collaborated during their annual awards banquet. This coalition strengthened their cooperation in other areas, including the organization and structure of the new minority engineering student center that debuted in October 1993, appropriately named the “CEMS Student Center”.

The student leaders of the individual organizations have always seen the need for leadership development and continuity within their societies, yet they had not found the most effective means of creating this continuity during the most critical time, the transfer of executive boards. Through their collaboration with the OMEP, the planning for a leadership retreat began. The students recognized the importance of an information exchange from the outgoing executive board members to the incoming and the need to share experience. The student leaders also recognized that the stability and continuity provided by the OMEP strengthens the membership as a whole and enhances the progression of leaders through the organizations and into indust~.

A pilot retreat was held for two days in a remote area of Northern Arizona to allow time to focus on mutual priorities. The activity required participation from both the outgoing and incoming executive board members of all three CEMS organizations. This paper will include discussion about the creation of the coalition, the benefits and the challenges that have been overcome. The discussion will also include the need for the collaborative atmosphere that the student center brings to a coalition such as this. Finally, a discussion about the leadership retreat, the resulting benefits and follow-up activities will be included.

Introduction The minority population of individuals 16 years and older living in the state of Arizona is 16. I’?40 Hispanic, 4.3% knerican Indian and 2.6?40 Afi-ican American (based on 1990 Census Data, Affirmative Action OffIce, ASU). The Phoenix metropolitan area is home to Arizona State University, the fifth largest

$iiii’ ) 1996 ASEE Annual Conference Proceedings ‘.JHlyL.?

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McCartney, M. A., & Reyes, M. A., & Anderson-Rowland, M. (1996, June), Developing Collaboration And Leadership Within Minority Engineering Student Societies Paper presented at 1996 Annual Conference, Washington, District of Columbia. 10.18260/1-2--5975