Conference Session

LGBTQ+ Track - Technical Session IV

Collection

2018 CoNECD - The Collaborative Network for Engineering and Computing Diversity Conference

Authors

David J. McLaughlin, University of Massachusetts, Amherst; Genny Beemyn, University of Massachusetts, Amherst

Tagged Topics

Diversity, LGBTQ+

semester), we are now expanding this into a 4-credit SocialWorld course at UMass Amherst. Section 2 of this paper describes the first offering of the course duringSpring 2016; section 3 describes the second offering during Fall 2016, where changes were made in theschedule based on student feedback and instructor experience. Section 4 describes the logic and plan toimplement this course as a 4 credit course in the future. Section 5 offers conclusions, and references are givenin section 6. The appendices to this paper reproduce verbatim comments that students have provided abouttheir experiences in this course.2. First Course Offering: One Credit Seminar, Spring 2016 Queer Lights was initially developed in

Conference Session

LGBTQ+ Track - Technical Session III

Collection

2018 CoNECD - The Collaborative Network for Engineering and Computing Diversity Conference

Authors

Robyn Sandekian, University of Colorado, Boulder

Tagged Topics

Diversity, LGBTQ+

staff. The paper concludes with implementablesuggestions for how to fully engage the lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, and others (LGBQ+)population in the ASEE Dean’s Diversity Initiative. IntroductionIn 2011, the ASEE Diversity Committee was formed and charged with developing a strategicplan “to position the Society to increase diversity in the profession” [2, Sec. Strategic Plan]. InOctober 2011, National Academy of Engineering member Dr. Lynn Conway appeared on thePrism magazine’s cover to accompany an article titled, “Secrets are out: Lesbian, gay, bisexual,and transgender engineers are no longer willing to hide their true selves” [3]. Dr. Conway was aformer IBM engineer who made significant

Conference Session

LGBTQ+ Track - Technical Session IV

Collection

2018 CoNECD - The Collaborative Network for Engineering and Computing Diversity Conference

Authors

Kristin Boudreau, Worcester Polytechnic Institute; David DiBiasio, Worcester Polytechnic Institute; Paula Quinn, Worcester Polytechnic Institute; Zoe Reidinger

Tagged Topics

Diversity, LGBTQ+

of these, including the student team responsible for lighting andsound at campus events. As one LGBTQ student told us, “Not everyone needs a safespace” (WPI, 2015).Our specific research plan emerged from our sense that the LGBTQ community at WPI isrelatively large for an engineering school. We hypothesized that there may be aconnection to the unique curriculum here, although we have never isolated the effects ofour off-campus projects, our six-course humanities requirement, or our strong artsprogram on LGBTQ students. Rather, we have conducted surveys and interviews to hearfrom students about their experiences as queer engineering undergraduates. Beyondsupport for LGBTQ engineering students, our project points the way toward enabling16 More