“Some girls…sometimes...they’re a rarity.”
That was what Matt Schott, Olathe engineering sophomore, had to say about the frequency in which he spots women in the School of Engineering. That’s just while going to classes. There isn’t a single woman in any of his engineering classes this semester, not even in a lecture class of 50.
Florence Boldridge, the director of Diversity Programs for the School of Engineering, said that women are the most under-represented group in the department.
The School of Engineering implements several programs to help boost the enrollment level of women in engineering. One such program, Project Discovery, allows high school girls to attend a week-long engineering summer camp at the University. Participants engage in classes and labs, in the field of their choosing, taught by KU engineering professors. A maximum of 40 girls can participate in each week.
“Project Discovery is but one of the recruitment tools that we use in accomplishing our goal of bringing women and minorities into our School of Engineering,” Boldridge said.
The School of Engineering runs Engineer Your Career. This half-day program introduces junior high and high school girls to career possibilities in engineering. Participants have the opportunity to speak to KU professors about different programs at the University.
The School of Engineering and the Society of Women Engineers also host the SWE Weekend of Engineering. The program is designed to introduce girls to KU life and the School of Engineering. Activities include: demonstrations by University professors, an engineering group project, attending a either a KU football or basketball game, and a pizza party.
Christina Conrad, Stilwell junior in chemical engineering, thinks that programs like Project Discovery can help girls find that engineering is just right for them.
“You never really hear about any women role models in engineering,” Conrad said.
She thinks the main reason girls don’t go into engineering is that they don’t have much of an opportunity to explore the potential there. Historically it has been a male dominated profession.
She also thinks times are changing for women engineers. The number of women engineers is increasing.
“I look at my dad’s year books and at mine and I can see it’s changing,” Conrad said.
This gradual change could make women a much more common sighting in the passages of Eaton and Learned Halls.