capstone design experiences(Froyd & Ohland, 2005), first year computer programming experiences (Brannan & Wankat,2005), community service learning (Coyle, Jamieson, & Oakes, 2005), active learning (Borrego,Froyd, & Hall, 2010; National Research Council, 2012; Fairweather, 2008; Handelsman et al.,2004; Seymour, 2002; Boyer Commission on Educating Undergraduates in the ResearchUniversity, 1998), and design-based learning (Puente, Van Eijck, & Jochems, 2011; Reynolds,Mehalik, Lovell, & Schunn, 2009). Most of these, however, are institutionally or individuallyenacted—the goal of the RED program is to build these efforts at a broader scale with radicallydifferent approaches which will result in disruptions in engineering and
academia that is inclusive, collaborative, and supportive as well as connected to industry,government, and academia on multiple levels. SWE WIA addresses the identified gap inacademic community building by bringing together academics from a variety of institution typesinterested in topics broader than (but indirectly related to) promotion and tenure requirementssuch as support and technical networks, fostering women interested in academia, and bestpractice sharing.With respect to network building the SWE Women in Academia community facilitatesmentorship, collaboration (industry, academic), and consultant opportunities. As discussedpreviously, a formal mentoring program was started to connected junior and senior faculty froma variety of