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Longitudinal Analysis of First-Year Engineering Students' Active Participation in Women in Engineering Program Activities and the Relationship to Engineering Persistence

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Conference

2022 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Location

Minneapolis, MN

Publication Date

August 23, 2022

Start Date

June 26, 2022

End Date

June 29, 2022

Conference Session

WIED: Activities and Programs

Page Count

10

DOI

10.18260/1-2--41485

Permanent URL

https://peer.asee.org/41485

Download Count

143

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Paper Authors

biography

Suzanne Zurn-Birkhimer Purdue University at West Lafayette (COE)

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Dr. Suzanne Zurn-Birkhimer has spent her career diligently working towards broadening participation of women and underrepresented groups in STEM fields. She is the Associate Director of the Purdue University Women in Engineering Program where she leads retention efforts and conducts research around female student success. She manages the undergraduate and graduate mentoring programs that reach over 700 students annually and teaches two Women in Engineering seminar courses. She also holds a courtesy Associate Professor appointment in the Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences where she teaches introductory Atmospheric Science courses.

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biography

Mayari Serrano Purdue University at West Lafayette (PPI)

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Dr. Mayari Illarij Serrano Anazco is post-doctoral research assistant at Purdue University. Dr. Serrano earned her Bachelor's degree in Biotechnology Engineering at Ecuador's Army Polytechnic School, and her Master's and Ph.D. degrees in Computer and Information Technology from Purdue University. Dr. Serrano has been part of the Women in Engineering Program since 2015 as a Graduate Assistant and was hired as a Post-Doctoral Assistant in 2020. Her interests include fostering STEM enthusiasm, and technology innovation.

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Abstract

The Women in Engineering Program (WIEP) at Purdue University has established a supportive environment in which female undergraduate engineering students can build community while developing professional, academic, and personal skills. This study examines three WIEP programs available to first-year students that aim to provide an avenue for community building: a residential living community (for first-years only), a mentoring program (offered to all undergraduate students), and a first-year seminar course. This longitudinal study examines six cohorts (2009 – 2014) of entering female engineering students, their participation in three WIEP programs, and their persistence in the College of Engineering (COE). The results suggest that students who participate in WIEP programs during their first year typically have higher graduation rates than those who do not participate. Also, those participating in multiple programs have higher graduation rates than those who participated in only one program. The authors conclude that increasing participation of first-year female engineering students in WIEP programs can contribute to higher COE graduation rates.

Zurn-Birkhimer, S., & Serrano, M. (2022, August), Longitudinal Analysis of First-Year Engineering Students' Active Participation in Women in Engineering Program Activities and the Relationship to Engineering Persistence Paper presented at 2022 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Minneapolis, MN. 10.18260/1-2--41485

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