Increase the number of women in your Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math classes with the strategies you’ll learn from the Institute for Women in Trades, Technology & Science (IWITTS). Based on proven practices, the workshop training curriculum includes the “best-of-the-best” of IWITTS strategies, culled from their four National Science Foundation projects and over 17 years of success in assisting educational institutions in recruiting and retaining female students in programs around the country.
You will take away:
- An easy-to-implement recruitment plan that will greatly increase the number of women and girls in your STEM classrooms.
- A retention plan for your school that will increase the completion rate of your female (and male students), starting this semester.
- The knowledge and confidence you need to put these plans into action, right away.
Results:
Community colleges that have implemented the strategies participants learn through this system have seen remarkable results. At San Francisco City College’s Computer Networking and Information Technology program, female enrollment has risen from 18% to 33%. Initially, less than 65% of the female students completed the computer program. Using the IWITTS system, they turned around those results so now more than 85% of female students complete their classes. Plus, the retention rate of male students has increased as well.
Training Agenda:
- Discover the IWITTS proven, road-tested system for increasing the number of women in your STEM classes.
- Explore gender-specific learning styles: Find out how to excite and engage female students in technology by teaching to their learning style and help female students be successful in the lab.
- Discover your number one strategy that will help boost your female enrollment (that costs little or nothing and doesn’t take a lot of time to implement).
- Learn how to set up your students for success from Day One in your program so they can have a successful start and the confidence that comes with it.
- Learn to overcome the challenges of engaging and retaining female students when their numbers in classes are still small.
- Develop a customized action plan for increasing the number of female students in your classes and making sure they stay.
After the training:
Long term support for implementation includes 6 monthly live Support and Strategy calls (August 2012-January 2013) of 45- 60 minutes each. Long term support helps you move from plan to action, and stay focused on implementation. You will also have access to a private online member forum so you stay connected and get all your questions answered.
Date: July 9-10, 2012 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. each day
Location: University of Massachusetts Boston
100 Morrissey Boulevard, Healey 11th Floor, Room 11B
Boston, MA 02125
Cost: ATE grantees may participate in the training at no cost, thanks to funding from the National Science Foundation and hosting by BATEC. This training and system usually costs more than $900 per person.
Application deadline: MAY 25, 2012
Application instructions are below. Space is limited, so don’t wait. The most recent NSF-funded WomenTech Educators training was full with a waiting list. Priority will be given to applicants who apply early.
Application process:
- Apply online: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/KLNW7NK.
- In your application, make sure to include your ATE Project or Center name and the grant number.
- Approval from your dean is required for participation. See application for details.
- Applicants will be notified via email if their application for the training has been accepted.
Training Contact: For questions regarding the application process or training content, contact seminars@iwitts.org.
Questions about travel logistics: Contact Katie McGeary at katie.mcgeary@umb.edu




