America's unprecedented prosperity at the start of the twenty-first century is fueled by the nation's science, engineering, and technology (SET) enterprise. But in this climate, it can be easy to forget that the new economy is especially dependent on - and thus vulnerable to - the talent and knowledge of its workers.
An increasingly large share of the work force consists of women, underrepresented minorities, and persons with disabilities - groups persistently underrepresented in SET careers. This significant shift in US work force demographics is occurring even as the number of SET jobs skyrockets.
If America is to prosper in the new millennium, we must build a domestic SET work force that taps the talents of all segments of our population and therefore reflects the rich diversity of our nation. Toward this end, Congress established the Commission on the Advancement of Women and Minorities in Science, Engineering and Technology Development (the Commission) (PL 105-225, approved Oct. 14, 1998). The Commission was charged with setting forth recommendations to help build a domestic work force capable of meeting our nation's strategic SET needs. The Commission recommends policies and programs that:
The Commission's recommendations touch on all areas of the SET pipeline - from early childhood classrooms to the boardroom, from public policy to public image.
More Americans can and will fill SET jobs if barriers are removed that impede their access to high-quality education in science, mathematics, and engineering. The Commission's recommendations focus on steps that will permanently:
Attention to SET education must begin as early in the preschool years (0-4 years), when the learning process begins. Many factors discourage girls, underrepresented minorities, and children with disabilities from imagining themselves in SET careers and learning the skills necessary to participate in SET. Such factors include misperceptions about these students' SET abilities, the lack of access to high-quality mathematics and science curricula and resources, and the lack of high-profile role models.
The Commission supports precollege reform efforts now underway that:
Increasing the participation of women, underrepresented minorities, and persons with disabilities in SET fields will not be easy. It will require different strategies for different groups. Americans must be prepared to invest in educational reforms that promise real payoffs down the road.
RECOMMENDATION: The Commission recommends the adoption and implementation of comprehensive high-quality education standards, at the state level, concerning mathematics and science curricula, mathematics and science teacher qualifications (as recommended by the Glenn Commission), technological assets, built environments, assistive technologies and physical infrastructure.
Special care must be given to understanding the distinct issues affecting these underrepresented groups at different point along the path to a college or postgraduate degree. For example, women are less likely than men to select SET majors, while African Americans and Hispanics are less likely to have access to the prerequisites for a SET major. Data on SET undergraduate students with disabilities is insufficient for analysis, point to a need for better information on this important group of potential SET workers.
In recent years, community colleges have provided increased access to higher education, currently enrolling close to half of all students SET majors, while African Americans and Hispanics are less likely to have access to the prerequisites for a SET major. Data on SET undergraduate students with disabilities is insufficient for analysis, point to a need for better information on this important group of potential SET workers.
In recent years, community colleges have provided increased access to higher education, currently enrolling close to half of all students who are women, African American, and persons with disabilities, as well as more than half of Hispanic and American Indian students. These institutions represent a rich source of potential SET talent that is too often ignored.
RECOMMENDATION #1: The Commission recommends aggressive, focused intervention efforts targeting women, underrepresented minority, and disabled students at the high school level, at the transition into postsecondary education, and at the community college transition into four-year colleges.
RECOMMENDATION #2: The Commission recommends that the federal and state governments significantly expend financial investment in support of underrepresented groups in SET higher education, as well as institutions including, but not limited to Minority Serving Institutions (Historically Black Colleges and Universities, or HCBUs; Hispanic Serving Institutions, or HSIs; and Tribal Colleges and Universities or TCUs). Expansion of support to students should come through multiple grant mechanisms rather than loans, to include scholarships, fellowships, and internships. Expansion of support to institutions should include institutional awards, research assistantships, traineeships, and the expansion of proven programs.
The measure of success is parity with respect to population distribution in enrollment, academic performance, and graduation rates of all groups at each level.
Not surprisingly, underrepresented SET professionals report barriers to success similar to those for SET students, including bias and the absence of mentoring, as well as obstacles specific to the working world, such as exclusion from informal networks, fewer opportunities to accrue management experience, and the difficulty of balancing work and family life. If employers want to gain the competitive edge that, studies have shown, accompanies diversity in the work force, they will have to modify a SET workplace culture to bridge the communications gap between people of differing cultures, gender, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
RECOMMENDATION: The Commission recommends that both public and private SET employers be held accountable for the career development and advancement of their employees who are women, underrepresented minorities, and persons with disabilities.
Such images discourage many underrepresented minorities, persons with disabilities, Popular media, especially television, can be a powerful tool for changing the public face of science and engineering. A critical step along the path toward a more diverse, and therefore, a more globally competitive SET work force in the United States will be public images of scientists and engineers that better reflect the talents and accomplishments of all citizens.
RECOMMENDATION: Identify or establish a body, representing public, nonprofit, and private sectors, to coordinate efforts to transform the image of the SET professionals and their practitioners so that the image is positive and inclusive for women, underrepresented minorities, and persons with disabilities.
Sample measures of effectiveness include positive images represented in the Draw-a-Scientist Test, positive and increased media portrayal of underrepresented persons in science and engineering, and increased and well-positioned television airtime for these groups as they participate in SET professions.
RECOMMENDATION: Establish or identify a collaborative body to continue the efforts of the Commission through the development, coordination, and oversight of strong, feasible action plans.
Any members interested in running for office may submit a petition signed by a minimum of 20 voting members of the Section to the Nominations Chair at PO Box 1594, Hurst, TX 76053-1594. Petitions must be postmarked by Nov. 1, 2000.
| SECTION | Chair | Bob Krause |
| Vice Chair | John Oberkrom | |
| Secretary | Thomas Sears | |
| Treasurer | Steve Papa | |
| ANTENNAS & PROPAGATION CHAPTER | Chair | Johathan Bredow |
| COMMUNICATIONS CHAPTER | Chair | Peter Wang |
| Vice Chair | Mike Inoescu | |
| COMPUTER CHAPTER | Chair | Mimi Hutchinson |
| ENGRG MANAGEMENT CHAPTER | Chair | Ed Safford |
| Vice Chair | Gerard Ourada | |
| POWER ENGINEERING CHAPTER | Chair | Mark Burt |
| Vice Chair | Scot Williams | |
| Treasurer | Mike Bui |
Your letters helped make the difference when the House passed the bill last month. Please respond again and contact Senators Gramm and Hutchinson in support of pension legislation. Washington insiders say there's a reasonable probability that Congress will pass this important legislation in September and that President Clinton will sign it. But strong grassroots expressions of support are critical. Unless Senators and Representatives hear from their constituents, the bills could simply fall between the cracks in the press of other urgent business in the closing days of the 106th Congress.
IEEE-USA DELIVERED A SERIES OF FIVE QUESTIONS TO THE US PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES on the subjects of federal R&D funding priorities, retirement security, high tech workforce issues, K-12 math & science education, and Internet privacy issues. Responses will be collected and reported to the IEEE US membership. See text at www.ieeeusa.org/forum/POLICY/00sept06.html.
IEEE'S 2000 WISE INTERNS have completed their summer program and turned in their policy-related research papers, which are available for review:
E-SURVEY ON WOMEN IN TECHNOLOGY - Images and biographies of women in technology occupations are hard to find. This is why IWITTS is developing a WomenTech Role Model Gallery that will assist schools and community colleges in attracting women and girls to technology careers. It will be the main feature of the new WomenTech Web site IWITTS is building and will assist in the development of national education marketing tools to recruit females to technology careers. Complete the short WomenTech Role Model survey at www.iwitts.com/html/esurveysurvey.html and help bring other women into your profession.
CATALYST CENSUS FIND NUMBER OF WOMEN BOARD DIRECTORS INCREASING - "Analyses of change over time in the Fortune 500 show that the percent of companies with multiple women board directors is rising," says Catalyst President Sheila Wellington, "while the percent of companies with zero women directors is getting smaller. At the same time, the percent of companies with one woman director remains virtually unchanged." Catalyst is a nonprofit research and advisory organization that works with business to advance women. Since the first Catalyst Census in 1993, the number of Fortune 500 companies with at least one-woman board director has increased by 2%.
For the first time, Catalyst has expanded its annual count of women board directors to include the entire Fortune 1000. Results show that America's 500 largest companies are significantly more likely to have at least one woman board director than the larger group. Eighty-four percent of Fortune 500 companies have at least one woman on their board; only 62% of Fortune 501-1000 companies have women directors. Further, 190 companies in the Fortune 501-1000 group have no woman board directors, compared to 81 in the Fortune 500.
This year, Catalyst was able to obtain data on women-of-color board directors from 777 companies. Out of the 8,463 board seats among those companies, only 159 are held by women of color, thus comprising 1.9% of the total board seats. African-American women represent the largest minority group among these directors, accounting for 111 of the 159 board seats. Hispanic/Latina women hold 25 board seats, Asian women account for 18 seats, and 5 board seats are listed as held by 'Other.' For more information see www.catalystwomen.org or call 212-514-7600.
IEEE COLOR BOOKS IN CD-ROM - The roll out of the IEEE Color Books Recommended Practices for Industrial and Commercial Power Systems CD-ROM is expected to be in October. The IEEE Color Books are industry-proven tools specifically developed for today's engineers involved in all facets of industrial and commercial power systems. Together, the 12 volumes that comprise the set provide members with complete access to today's most reliable information on electric power systems. Visit shop.ieee.org/store/product.asp?prodno=SE106.
WIRELESS PAPERS AVAILABLE FROM COMSOC - The IEEE Communications Society now makes it easier to access papers in wireless technology that are critical to member's work. The ComSoc Quick Paper Search allows members to search for papers published in IEEE Communications Society periodicals since 1996, view the abstracts for free and purchase full-text access. Simply go to www.comsoc.org/ieee/comsoc/ and search for the keyword "wireless." Searches can be defined by publication, article title, keywords and date of publication.
Recognizing our Section members for their long-time commitment to the profession on the anniversary of their joining IEEE.
30 yrs
25 yrs
20 yrs
Answer to last month's Brainbuster:
Jean Eason, Editor