UCLA Engineering: UCLA Engineer Magazine

UCLA Outreach Programs Promote Engineering to Underrepresented Communities

SWE officers Leslie Huang, Amy Kwan, and Baley Fong.

“I wanted to return to our core mission of increasing the number of women in engineering, to go back to the roots of the organization,” explains Baley Fong, president of the UCLA chapter of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE).

With that in mind, Fong suggested to her fellow SWE officers that they visit junior high and high schools to promote engineering and available programs at UCLA. She created a PowerPoint presentation about engineering disciplines in the UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science to use as the basis for their presentations.

“If we can reach female students when they’re younger, and get them interested,” says Fong, “we’ll be able to increase the number of women majoring in engineering at UCLA.”

Thus far, the group’s efforts have reached nearly 1,500 students at schools around California, receiving very positive responses from both the teachers and students. Fong will serve as outreach director for SWE this coming year, and hopes the program will reach 5,000 students by the time she graduates.

Distance Mentoring

The UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science is launching an innovative new program this fall to tutor high school students in engineering, math, and science. The Engineering Science Corps is a volunteer-based distance-tutoring program that will bring together students at UCLA with area high school students. The volunteers would be available at their computers during designated times to answer questions via e-mail about the younger students’ homework.

The volunteers will be trained using course materials from the high schools, and then will work directly with the high school students to help them understand material that might otherwise discourage them from pursuing careers in engineering, math, and science.

Engineering Dean Vijay K. Dhir is also committed to making a difference in the School. Dhir has launched several new programs designed to increase the number of women and members of underserved communities majoring in engineering.

“We are committed to expanding the pool of qualified engineers and scientists in California,” says Dhir. “Without reaching out to students who might not otherwise consider careers in engineering, we cannot meet the growing demand from industry for well-trained graduates.”

With this in mind, Frank Nevarez, the School’s new education coordinator, is developing a range of outreach activities designed to increase the number of female students in the School. He also is creating a centralized resource for students interested in internships or research opportunities.

Prior to joining the School of Engineering, Nevarez worked at the UCLA Center for Academic and Research Excellence, (CARE), where he was actively involved in research programs for students in engineering, science and mathematics. The summer program that he supervised reached more than 100 students interested in research on campus.

Aided by a $1.8 million grant from the National Science Foundation, UCLA and partner schools have launched a program to expand current retention activities to increase the number of graduates from traditionally underrepresented communities in engineering and physical science.

The Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics Talent Expansion Program for Underutilized Populations (STEP-UP), overseen by Associate Dean of Academic and Student Affairs Stephen Jacobsen and Center for Engineering Excellence and Diversity Rick Ainsworth, will aid in raising awareness of engineering, math and science, and also help students successfully transfer from community colleges to UCLA and California State University, Los Angeles (CSULA).

The Center for Excellence in Engineering and Diversity (CEED), housed in the School of Engineering, brings more than 20 years of success in fostering diversity in the engineering and high-tech workforce, through outreach programs that help educationally disadvantaged and underrepresented students achieve success in math, science and engineering.

“For California to remain a leader in advanced technology,” notes Jacobsen, “we need to better engage all segments of our population.”

If you would like to support internships or outreach activities in the School, please contact Frank Nevarez at 310/825-3008 or nevarez@ea.ucla.edu.

- Marlys Amundson