ABSTRACT: 2014 ELATE Institutional Action Project Poster Symposium
Project Title: WIN: Women In eNgineering
Name and Institution : Patricia A. Nava, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies and Academic
Af- fairs, College of Engineering, University of Texas, El Paso
Collaborators: Gabby Gandara, Virginia Granda, Debra Little, Stella Quiñones, Ivonne Santiago, Mi- chael Zarate, and others
Background, Challenge or Opportunity: On a national scale, women have composed an increasing portion of the student body at institutions of higher education, achieving the 50% mark in
2008 (Digest of Education Statistics, 2010). Unlike the general trend at the university-level, engineering colleges and schools across the nation demonstrate a systemic underrepresentation of women, at all stages of the academic pipeline, from students to tenured faculty. The Women In eNgineering initiative focuses on creating a climate that is welcoming and conducive to success, in order improve retention, and attract more women to engineering professions, as well as the professoriate.
Purpose/Objectives : The purpose of this institutional change project is to change the way people in the college, university, and local community view engineering as a “male” discipline. Furthermore, within the CoEN, WIN will become an “ecosystem” that:
 reaches out to the community to engage pre-college women;
 promotes a feeling of community for female students in the CoEN;
 provides a venue and structure for the mentoring, development, growth, and success of female students;
 is supported by a network of seasoned faculty members that can mentor the students;
 can provide assistance and advice, with respect to the many challenges faced by female faculty members;
 facilitates professional development and growth opportunities for female faculty; and
 creates opportunities for interactions with practicing professionals.
Methods/Approach : Based on advice from the CoEN Advisory Board, the WIN initiative will be based on a model of interaction developed in phases. Phase I is establishment of the faculty group, dubbed
WEST (Women in Engineering Support Team). WEST will have recurring meetings, whose direction is guided by the objectives, but implementation is dictated by member needs. Phase II consists of developing the student (WINgineer) community. WINgineer workshops will be an opportunity to learn and exercise new skills and knowledge, as well as an opportunity to interact with professional engineers and faculty. Other activities developed will foster the sense of community, as well as engage and leverage existing groups, such the Society of Women Engineers. Phase III is the creation of WIPP, Women in Professional Practice, who will help mentor students in their discipline.
Phase IV will be the development of WINgineer outreach activities, creating an opportunity to exercise near-peer mentoring of the pre-college group, known as Junior WINgineers. Representatives from all groups will come together at a special session, on an annual basis, to review results, provide feedback on current activities, and set future directions.
Outcomes and Evaluation : WIN outcomes are: (1) an increase in the female-male ratio of students within CoEN; (2) an increase in the female-male ratio of students receiving engineering degrees; and
(3) an increase in the female-male ratio of tenured and tenure-track faculty. Evaluation will be based on quantitative metrics associated with each outcome.

On a national scale, women have composed an increasing portion of the student body at institutions of higher education, achieving the 50% mark in 2008 (Digest of Education Statistics, 2010). Unlike the general trend at the university-level, engineering colleges and schools across the nation demonstrate a systemic underrepresentation of women, at all stages of the academic pipeline, from students to tenured faculty. The Women In eNgineering (WIN) initiative focuses on creating a climate that is welcoming and conducive to success, in order improve retention and attract more women to engineering professions, as well as the professoriate.
 To change the way people in the college, university, and local community view engineering as a “male” discipline
 To create the WIN “ecosystem” that:
 reaches out to the community to engage pre-college women
 promotes a feeling of community for female students in the College of Engineering
 provides a venue and structure for the mentoring, development, growth, and success of female students;
 is supported by a network of seasoned faculty members that can mentor the students
 can provide assistance and advice, with respect to the many challenges faced by female faculty members
 facilitates professional development and growth opportunities for female faculty
 creates opportunities for interactions with practicing professionals

All female students within the College of Engineering are members

K-12 future engineers. Outreach activities that are focused on exposing and igniting engineering interest in girls are facilitated by WINgineers

(Society of Women Engineers) local chapter receives support and help from WEST and WEPP

(Women in Engineering Support Team)
All female faculty in the College of
Engineering. The WEST group seeks to create, encourage, and foster a culture in the UTEP College of Engineering that promotes equity for women in the study and practice of engineering

(Women Engineers in Professional
Practice)
Female practicing engineers interested in sharing their experiences, skills, and knowledge to assist and encourage girls and young women to pursue an engineering career.
Resident population of the US, by sex and race/ethnicity Engineers & scientists in engineering & science occupations, by sex and race/ethnicity
Women, Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities in Science and Engineering: 2011 www.nsf.gov/statistics/wmpd/
 Encourage undergraduate women to persist in engineering studies
 Provide opportunities for women engineering students to develop leadership skills
 Enhance the overall experience of women in the College
 Foster a dynamic environment that encourages personal and professional development
 Create activities for mentoring opportunities
 Host a variety of activities that reinforce the notion of community, network, and connection:
 monthly WEST meetings
 monthly WIN workshops/events
 annual WIN retreat for feedback, analysis & defining new directions
 annual progress report to College of Engineering Advisory
Board
WIN outcomes are:
(1)an increase in the female-male ratio of students within
College of Engineering
(2)an increase in the female-male ratio of students receiving engineering degrees
(3)an increase in the female-male ratio of tenured and tenure-track faculty
Evaluation will be based on quantitative metrics associated with each outcome.
Collaborators: Dr. Richard Schoephoerster (Dean, College of Engineering); Gabby Gandara (Director, Engineering Student Services), Virginia Granda (E-PASO), Socorro
Quezada (E-PASO), Debra Little (E-PASO), Dr. Stella Quiñones (WEST), Dr. Ivonne Santiago (WEST), Manny Pacillas (Asst. Dean, College of Engineering), Michael Zarate, and others