First-Year Women in Science and Engineering Research: Attuning Programs to Benefit Average Students

Abstract

Women in Science and Engineering Research (WISER) Program places first-year women students in science and engineering research laboratories at Penn State University. WISER is a retention program designed to intervene during the period of highest attrition for women in the sciences and engineering: the first year. Between 1994 and 200 I, a total of 306 Penn State students have participated in WISER. Of these, approximately 20% are students of color. WISER is a Penn State adaptation of Dartmouth College's Women in Science Project (WISP). Their organization is explained here for the benefit of those who may not be familiar with these two universities. Dartmouth is small, private, and teaching-oriented, whereas Penn State is state-affiliated, large, multi-site and research-oriented. Perm State has also disseminated WISER to two other sites, Penn State Abington and Penn State Altoona.