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H I S T O R Y
A new program has been launched by Oregon State University to encourage and inspire more
women and minority students to pursue careers in engineering, and to help
retain these students in engineering once they enroll at the university.
"Only eight percent of the engineering workforce nationwide is made up of women",
says Ellen Momson, a veteran high school physics teacher the college recently
hired to direct the new Women and Minorities Program. "Historically, young
women have not been encouraged to pursue careers in engineering, yet
engineering can be extremely fulfilling and rewarding. We're very committed to
bringing more woman and minorities to OSU to become tomorrow's engineers."
As much as 60 percent of the
women and minorities who begin studying engineering change to a field other
than engineering within their first two quarters at the university.
"That's why we're revitalizing the freshman and sophomore curriculum, making it
more hands-on and inspiring," says Momsen, who last year was one of only six
physics teachers in the nation selected to participate in year-long residencies
at six universities, including Oregon State. "We need to change the teaching
methods so that the earliest courses are very engaging and exciting."
Fully funded by industry and alumni sponsors, the new program has
also established a mentoring program so that first-year students have an
immediate peer support system provided by older students.
"We're connecting new students with students who know the ropes and will mentor them during that critical first
year," Momsen says.
Only 18 percent enrolled at US engineering schools are women, but Momsen hopes to raise that number at Oregon State by letting
potential students know that job prospects for engineers are excellent,
especially for woman and minorities, and by exposing students to good role
models, including industry leaders.
"Young women and minorities have very few role models in the field of
engineering," Momsen says. "We want to connect them at an early age with people
they can relate to who have become successful engineers, to illustrate in a
very real way what's possible in an engineering career."
Providing outreach to K-12 students, as well as math and science teachers is the goal of the Women and Minorities in Engineering program. |
