Engineering and Computer Science OPTIONS for Female High School Students

Dr. Deborah J. Hwang ( hwang@evansville.edu)

Dr. Dick K. Blanford (blandfor@evansville.edu)

Department of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science

University of Evansville

1800 Lincoln Avenue

Evansville, Indiana 47722

May 30, 1999

The University of Evansville in Evansville, Indiana, has been offering the Engineering and Computer Science OPTIONS Program for female high school students since Summer 1992. OPTIONS is a one-week residential summer camp held on the University of Evansville campus. The objectives of the OPTIONS program include the following:

• Provide an introduction to civil, electrical and mechanical engineering and computer science, allowing female high school students the opportunity to make informed career decisions.
• Provide increased opportunities for female students in the areas of engineering and computer science.
• Provide experiences for development of problem solving skills using creativity and ingenuity.
• Provide a peer group for social validation so that a career in engineering does not become a "me only" decision.
• Use role models to promote an understanding of the significance of engineering and computer science work and to clearly indicate the high probability of success for women in the engineering and computer science fields.
• Educate parents about the opportunities available and to convey the message that engineering and computer science are acceptable career choices for their daughters.
• Provide information about career choices and the skills needed to pursue an engineering or computer science degree at an age when choices are being made.

OPTIONS has accepted up to 20 students per year. Until 1998, participation was limited to rising juniors. In 1998, participation was opened to any female high school student who has completed geometry. We target this particular audience, since studies have shown that this is the time when women make decisions about continuing with advanced math and science classes as well as make decisions about college choices and college majors in general [1]. Frequently, at this point, many female students opt out of the mathematics and science tracks because of peer pressure and because they do not see math and science as essential for their careers. OPTIONS provides a clear message for students that engineering and computers science careers are available for women, and that math and science in high school are essential for an engineering or computer science career choice.

• The University conducts an annual regional science fair. A letter is sent to all science fair participants who qualify, inviting them to apply.
• Information is sent to all regional high school counselors and science and math department heads, announcing the program and inviting them to notify qualified students.
• Female engineers who serve as mentors for the program make personal contact with high school teachers to solicit participants and encourage participation.
• Past participants are contacted and asked to nominate qualified participants for the coming year.
• Scholarships based on need are made available to all candidates.
• OPTIONS faculty make presentations to department meetings of science and math teachers, and PTA meetings at the local high schools.
• This year, a wide area mailing was done to reach a more national audience for the program. Mailing lists were taken from PSAT and SAT test interest data collected by the admissions office.

The camp instructors are faculty and staff members of the College of Engineering and Computer Science. During the week, students mix fun with work and learn about four different engineering disciplines: Civil Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering, the programs offered by the University of Evansville. Participants are divided into four small groups consisting of four to six participants. These small groups encourage active involvement and one-on-one attention. The activities are chosen to emphasize problem solving and team building skills. For each discipline, students are given a short overview of the discipline, and then taught some basic design techniques and allowed to use them to build artifacts. In Civil Engineering students are taught basic structural principles and then design and build balsa wood bridges. The bridges are destructively tested for structural efficiency. In Computer Science, students learn about basic programming structures and write a screen saver program. In Electrical Engineering, students learn to read circuit diagrams and build a small electrical device. In Mechanical Engineering, students design and build water balloon launchers. Students are also given training in the use of email and the Internet.

In addition to University of Evansville faculty, women engineers (in any area of engineering) and computer scientists working in the Evansville area serve as mentors to the program. Mentors participate in a panel discussion on being women engineering or computer science professionals. Students ask questions about what types of work the mentors do (especially of the chemical engineers), what kinds of classes they took in college, and how they balance their work and families. Mentors also host visits to their worksites, so students can see first-hand what they do as engineers or computer scientists. Mentors also are invited to participate in the recreational activities of the camp. To date, thirty working female engineers have participated in the program as mentors. /

Parental involvement is encouraged. At the end of the session, parents and families are invited to a brunch with the participants to meet faculty, mentors, and the other participants. Admissions counselors and Financial Aid representatives are available to provide information to parents. Each OPTIONS participant discusses some of the activities that they have been involved in throughout the week and faculty are on hand to answer questions.

Our experience has been that the participants find the program to be informative and rewarding. The students find the activities with the mentors (panel discussion and worksite visits) the most interesting. Over the last four summers, the OPTIONS program has hosted a total of 72 female students. Of those who have graduated from high school, 44% have gone on to major in engineering. An additional 34% of this group has gone on to study math or one of the hard sciences for a total of 78% of the participants committing to a career in engineering, science or math where females are in the minority. This program has been able to provide young high school women with opportunities to gain knowledge and experience the challenging world of engineering. In addition, it is helping to bring females into rewarding and exciting careers.

Funding for the OPTIONS program has been through grants from the Kellogg Foundation, the Alcoa Foundation, and the American Society of Civil Engineers with matching funds from the University of Evansville. Additional support has been provided by numerous local industries in the Evansville area who provide materials, equipment, plant tours and release time for mentors to participate in the program. The University of Evansville also provides classrooms, support for faculty involvement, and subsidizes the dormitories and meals. Faculty teaching time is provided on a volunteer basis with a small honorarium.

This year (Summer 1999) there was not be a full OPTIONS session due to the lack of applicants. This was a surprise, since we did a national mailing to students indicating on the PSAT or SAT that they were interested in mathematics or science inviting them to participate. We received a number of inquiries for more information, but only five applications, and only one from the local area. We are in the process of evaluating our recruiting methods to determine the cause of this year's failure. We are planning an abbreviated version of OPTIONS to be held in conjunction with a previously planned, free, week-long University of Evansville seminar entitled "Why Go To College?" Students will participate in several worksite visits and one class activity.

[1] National Science Foundation, "Women and Minorities in Science and Engineering", Publication NSF 90-301, January 1990, pp. 122-124.