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Description
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In response to the
under-representation of women in the sciences, the
University of Michigan, in conjunction with the Sloan
Foundation, has initiated a model recruitment and retention
program for women graduate students in engineering and the
physical sciences (defined here as chemistry, physics and
applied physics). The UM Sloan Graduate Experience Project
is a comprehensive university-wide initiative designed to
recruit, retain, and foster the success of women engineering
and physical science students at the Masters and Ph.D.
levels.
The four major components of
the project are: research to increase our knowledge base
about the issues of women in science and engineering,
systemic institutional change with regard to the climate for
women graduate students, evaluation and dissemination of the
results of this model, and programmatic efforts to attract
and retain women students in these graduate programs. The
programmatic interventions established by the Graduate
Experience Project include the Peer Advising Program in
which upper level women graduate students serve as peer
advisors to incoming women graduate students.
Responsibilities include providing information,
decision-making assistance, and referrals to campus
professionals. Peer advisors are trained during two sessions
and remain in contact with a project co-ordinator who
encourages a sense of community among peers.
http://www.umich.edu/~umwise/about.htm
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