91�Թ� joins initiative to increase diversity in engineering

sgupta — Tue, 18 Aug 2015 07:32:24 +0000

91�Թ� joins initiative to increase diversity in engineering sgupta Tue, 08/18/2015 - 03:32

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At White House Demo Day, 92 U.S. and Canadian engineering schools committed to increase the representation of women and underrepresented minorities in the profession (photo by Sara Collaton).

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White House Demo Day

Engineering

Diversity

ASEE

American Society for Engineering Education

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Commitment made at first White House Demo Day

The Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering has joined more than 90 North American engineering schools in a pledge to boost diversity in the student body, faculty and profession.

The commitment is expressed in a letter released by the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) on the occasion of the first White House Demo Day, a gathering of innovators and entrepreneurs at which U.S. President Barack Obama made annoucements and met several exhibitors personally.

91�Թ� was one of two Canadian universities included in the promise to recruit more women and underrepresented minorities and foster a culture of inclusivity in engineering.

“91�Թ� Engineering is committed to encouraging and increasing diversity among our students, our faculty, our programs and the engineering profession,” said Dean Cristina Amon, a signatory to the letter. “Diverse perspectives deepen the engineering creative process, driving innovation and bringing superior approaches to address critical global challenges and enrich our lives.

91�Թ� Engineering is a leader in Canada in fostering gender diversity. In 2014, women made up 30.6 per cent of the Faculty’s first-year engineering class – the highest proportion of any entering engineering class in Canada. (Learn more about women at 91�Թ� Engineering)

Released as part of the ASEE Year of Action in Diversity, the letter requires participating schools to develop and implement a diversity plan that commits to equity and includes training in implicit bias. Schools are also expected to organize at least one kindergarten-to-Grade 12 (or community college) “pipeline” activity, such as targeted recruitment or educational outreach, and forge partnerships with non-PhD granting engineering schools serving populations underrepresented in engineering.

Earlier this year, the Faculty was the only Canadian engineering school to join a related U.S. initiative to prepare undergraduates to solve “Grand Challenges” – complex yet achievable goals related to health, security, sustainability and quality of life. The program was presented in a letter to Obama. (Read more)

Read the Diversity Letter on the White House website.

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