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Session 2247

Recruitment of Women and Minorities into Engineering Technology Programs

Maryam Ghorieshi, Wieslaw Grebski, Marlene Guers The Pennsylvania State University - Hazleton Campus

Abstract

The paper describes an experimental summer program “Access To Careers In Engineering” (ACE). The program was a recruitment strategy which targeted under-represented groups and sought to motivate them toward careers in engineering and engineering related fields. The ACE program was offered August 7-11, 1995. This program provided exposure to careers in engineering, engineering technology, and mathematics to 10th and 1lth grade female and minority students. The goal of the program was to create an interactive environment which allowed the high school students to participate in hands-on activities related to engineering, engineering technology and mathematics. The objective of these activities was to increase self-esteem of the participants through the completion of various projects and promote an awareness of career opportunities in these fields. The ACE Program was founded through a grant from The Pennsylvania State University-College of Engineering Enhancement Fund and Equal Opportunity Planning Committee. The paper also discusses the effectiveness of the program from the perspective of the high school students and the Penn State faculty who were involved in the program.

Introduction

The participation of women and minorities in engineering, engineering technology, mathematics, and related careers continues to be an issue for discussion, Defining the personnel resources for new engineers leads many academic institutions to evaluate the role of women and minorities in the engineering and technology fields. Figures from the Bureau of Census (1994 Ed.) indicate that 8.6°/0 of employed engineers are women, 3.7°/0 are Black, and 3.6°/0 are Hispanic.’ Further independent studies indicate that although female enrollment in engineering programs climbed between 1973 to 1982, it peaked in 1983, and declined in 1986. For that same time, figures for Blacks indicated that the 2°/0 figure in 1984 has not risen significantly.2 In response to these figures and projected needs, The Pennsylvania State University - Hazleton Campus developed the “Access to Careers in Engineering” Program (ACE). ACE was designed to be a co-operative program which brought 10th and 1lth grade female and minority students in contact with Penn State faculty from the Engineering, Engineering Technology, Mathematics, English, Guidance, and Physical Education Department, and local industry. This paper describes the development, operation, and conclusions derived from the ACE Program.

?&iii’1996 ASEE Annual Conference Proceedings } ‘..,yyy’:.$

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Grebski, W., & Guers, M., & Ghorieshi, M. (1996, June), Recruitment Of Women And Minorities Into Engineering Technology Programs Paper presented at 1996 Annual Conference, Washington, District of Columbia. 10.18260/1-2--6260