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RAPID CITY, S.D. (March 5, 2013) - The School of Mines' efforts to boost female mechanical engineering students are featured prominently in the latest issue of PE magazine, the flagship publication of the National Society of Professional Engineers.
In a story entitled, "Women's Work: Schools launch efforts to help boost the numbers of female mechanical engineers," Mines' own Lisa Carlson, mechanical engineering director of recruitment and graduate programs, is quoted often discussing her department's statistics and a new mentoring program launched last fall to help support female students. Female Mines students are also photographed working on their low-emission snowmobile design in the CAMP lab.
A record number of 42 female students are enrolled in the mechanical engineering department this year, and a new mentoring program aims to help keep them by offering a support base for women in the department which is 500 students strong.
Traditionally, many of the department's female students have transferred into other degree programs, largely because they don't know enough other women in mechanical engineering and feel "untethered," Carlson has said.
The new program will offer ongoing academic support and camaraderie opportunities for females within the department.
PE magazine is published 10 times per year and covers news and commentary on licensing, engineering ethics, employment, legislative and regulatory issues, education and other issues that have a direct impact on professional engineers.