ABSTRACT

Penn State New Kensington proposes the continuation of an annual, summer, two-day on campus program targeted at potential college-bound ninth through eleventh grade females from our service area. The event focuses on computer-based design, practical laboratory applications and technical report writing as a means of introducing them to the engineering and engineering technology programs which exist at the Campus. The program serves as a recruitment tool for the New Kensington Campus and possibly as a retention tool also by providing participants -- in advance of their matriculation --with a variety of skills which will enhance their opportunity for success in the engineering technology programs at the Campus.

INTRODUCTION

Seventy-three percent of the increased college and university enrollment in the last decade is attributable to women, according to the Department of Education's Center for Education Statistics. In 1991, a greater proportion of female high school graduates (67.1) enrolled in college than male (57.6). Although the trend continues with an increased percentage of females (52.0) planning for doctoral or advanced degrees in 1993, a study of the five most often planned fields of study by 1993 seniors indicated "about 81 percent of those who chose engineering were men."⁽¹⁾

According to the 1994 edition of Information Plus, although "women have made important inroads into the life, physical, and computer sciences" they still lag behind men proportionately "in degrees of all levels of physical and computer sciences, and especially in engineering where they earned about 15 percent of the bachelor's and master's degrees and only 9 percent of the Ph.D's."⁽²⁾

The FIRST program provides a vehicle for Penn State University and the New Kensington Campus to capture the interest of this growing community of college-bound young women, and to introduce them to nontraditional careers in engineering and engineering technology.

PROBLEM STATEMENT

The Registrar at the New Kensington Campus reports that less than 10 percent of enrolled engineering and engineering technology students are female, and proportionately fewer are of a minority group.

The problem is twofold: 1) young women are seldom encouraged by school teachers or counselors to consider or investigate careers in engineering because engineering continues to be a traditionally male choice, and 2) we are not reaching female and minority candidates early enough to encourage and guide them in preparation for matriculation in engineering or engineering technology.

PURPOSE

The objectives of the FIRST program are to foster involvement of females in engineering and engineering technology careers by reaching them during the career-formative years and, consequently, increase recruitment efforts and enrollment at Penn State University and the New Kensington Campus. This effort is in direct relation to the New Kensington Campus Recruitment and Retention Plan (Objective 3) which seeks to "integrate women from diverse educational backgrounds into the engineering and engineering technology programs at the [PSNK] Campus to ensure their success and retention." The program is also geared toward reaching minority females in particular, which addresses Campus Goal D "to provide a holistic, caring and supportive learning environment for students of all ages, races, creed and gender."

The New Kensington Campus' size and low student-to-teacher ratio (20: 1) serve to "foster student's abilities" (Goal E). In surveys conducted at the New Kensington Campus, students consistently indicate that the personal interaction offered by the academic community (i.e. advising and mentoring) has enhanced their academic success. Consequently, our campus serves as an excellent transition for students who must transfer to University Park in order to complete their degree in a four-year engineering program or, for students directly involved in the operation of machines and equipment, enrollment in one of our excellent Engineering Technology programs available at the New Kensington Campus.

APPROACH

Informational brochures and application forms are mailed to 9th through 11th grade students via community high school contacts and to minority churches and organizations. The general math and industrial arts teachers will be approached in particular this year. Students express an interest in the program by submitting the application form, and twelve are selected. The "undecided" and minority females are given selection preference over those who have already chosen engineering or engineering technology as a career. Once selection is made and acceptance confirmed, the students and their affiliate schools are listed in a news release.

In order for the FIRST Program to be most effective, the young girls should be undecided rather than fairly certain about their career choices. Thus, the directors, along with mentors from industry plan to review the current list of contacts, visit local high schools and present at various school functions and community organizations in an effort to more readily attain this goal.

"Hands-on" workshops in biomedical technology, genetic research, chemical and mechanical experimentation, data collection and technical laboratory writing are held to stimulate an interest in, and provide a realistic view of, engineering and engineering technology careers. Furthermore, a field trip is conducted at a local engineering firm or corporation so these young women can observe the engineering workplace, current methods and techniques, and women in engineering careers at work. Female engineers from local corporations also attend an informal session as part of the mentoring process provided to the participants. Finally, the attendees subdivide to complete a computer design project. Their projects are displayed at the recognition banquet held at the end of the program. Family members are invited and encouraged by their daughter's enthusiasm and informal discussions with faculty and mentors to recognize engineering and engineering technology as viable career options at Penn State University.

1996 FIRST PROGRAM

Achievement was measured by observation and verbal feedback from the young women and their parents at a closing program and completion of an evaluation form from each participant prior to their departure. A follow-up telephone call will also be made within a year. Overall, the young women felt the program was helpful, informative, and provided some "things to think about" in making career choices.

No official survey was distributed to the parents because they were directly involved at the recognition dinner. All parents and family members expressed their support for this kind of program and extended sincere appreciation for the committee's efforts.

LONG TERM RESULTS OF FIRST

For the last three years, the FIRST Program has directed a considerable number of participants toward actually selecting engineering, engineering technology or science as a career of choice. For others, these fields of study have become viable options.

The influence of the FIRST Program was reflected in some of the participants scheduling for Applied Chemistry rather than General Chemistry, in order to better prepare themselves. In addition, several students have expressed an interest in specific preparatory courses as well as the possibility of summer internships.

This summer, the participants from the first three years were surveyed by phone and their responses have been compiled into the statistics shown in Table I. We successfully contacted 28 of the 29 participants who have reached college age. Ten have chosen a science related field (i.e., microbiology, chemistry). Of these, eight chose non-traditional fields, and two chose traditional fields (i.e., medicine and pharmacy). In addition, nine students have selected engineering as a career choice, most notably environmental and biomedical. Nine of the 28 plan to attend Penn State, two particularly at New Kensington Campus. In fact, a 1994 participant has just received a scholarship for entrance as a freshman this fall into the engineering program at New Kensington. It is interesting to note that the selection of engineering as a major has been increasing with each year.

The highest GPA among the 28 participants contacted was 4.2; the lowest, 2.8. It appears that the FIRST Program has encouraged its participants to set high standards for themselves with the realization that their goals can, in fact, be achieved.

While more measurable results (actual college enrollment in engineering fields) cannot yet be fully evaluated, it is hoped that all FIRST participants found this exposure to the world of engineering and women engineers exciting and encouraging, removing some of the anxiety surrounding careers in the math and science fields.

COST OF THE PROGRAM

The total cost of the FIRST Program for 1996 was $4,978.74, thanks to cost containment, volunteer efforts and creative programming.

Funding from local industries, as well as underwriting from various local industries and professional societies and the Penn State University, enabled us to successfully run the FIRST Program this summer.

The projected cost of the FIRST Program for Summer 1997 is estimated at $5,100.00.

1. "Women's Changing Role," Information Plus, ed. Alison Landes, Carol D. Foster, and Cornelia B. Cessna, Wylie, Texas, 1994 Edition, pp. 142-145

2. IBID

Back to Table of Contents