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MOMENTUM
A Web Letter from the Office of the Provost - April 2020
Democracy, Civility and Freedom of Expression events coming in the spring

By Mary Jane Chew

Polytechnic Institute embraces diversity, inclusion

This is the second in our ongoing series about our college and unit diversity and inclusion initiatives and the positive impact they are having on our campus community. This story focuses on the Purdue Polytechnic Institute.

For Polytechnic, recruitment for diversity gets a kick-start with several camps. One of the camps for students in 9th through 11th grades is free and even involves the parents.

We try to consider not just the students but all who influence them when designing recruitment programs," said Antonia "Toni" Munguia, director of recruitment, retention and diversity for the institute. "With that in mind, the one-day camp called CLAIM IT has one track for students and a separate track for parents. They come to campus in November to take sample classes, for example, on data visualization, engineering technology and cyber security. Then the parents have a better understanding about what these subjects entail and can better guide their teen."

Another camp called VISION brings to campus underrepresented and underserved high school juniors. Participants explore majors and interests such as robotics, game studies, computer and information technology, unmanned aerial systems, aeronautical engineering, information modeling, cyber security and audio engineering. The residential camp opens a window into student life and participants are introduced to the Minority Technology and Women in Technology associations.

In the past, 56-75 percent of those who participated in VISION later apply to Purdue. Over the past five years, 54 URM students have matriculated to Purdue from the VISION camp and 87 female students from Polytechnic's DOiT camp, geared toward all girls in their junior year of high school.

Once students enroll, the institute's STEM ABC academic boot camp provides them with a five-week summer experience before their first year. These students get a jump start by getting acclimated, forming bonds, taking classes and earning college credit. Financial aid to help cover the program cost is available thanks to sponsors ArcelorMittal, Boeing, Eli Lilly and Co., Caterpillar Inc., Duke Energy and John Deere.

"Students who experience STEM ABC seem to adjust better, and many become leaders in our Minority Technology and Women in Technology associations," Munguia said.

In addition to DOiT, Polytechnic offers several other programs geared specifically for women. The Women in Technology Association provides support. Students are encouraged to join a Women in Technology Learning Community and take TECH 101, a one-credit course primarily for women. In TECH 101, students explore careers, meet professionals and faculty and hear their personal stories. The students are exposed to the emerging roles of women in technology and learn the academic and interpersonal skills and strategies needed to succeed in a technology-related career.

"We had 97.9 percent retention for women students who took the course, versus 89.8 percent for those who did not," said Munguia, who teaches the class, which this year had 50 students. A similar class, TECH 100, is open to all students.

Of course, all the institute's students benefit from Polytechnic's free BEST Program (Building Excellence for Students in Technology), a peer academic support program that features one-on-one academic coaching.

Thanks to all of these programs, a disproportionate number of students in both the Women in Technology and Minority Technology have taken leadership roles in the institute.

"When we consider all minorities, including Asian, about 30 percent of our ambassadors are minority students," Munguia said.

Last fall, more than one in five of the 4,144 undergraduates in Polytechnic were women. That represents a 67 percent increase compared to a 24 percent increase in the male student population over the past six years. Looking at underrepresented minorities, they comprised almost 12 percent of Polytechnic's undergrads this fall, a third more than six years ago.

Like all the colleges at Purdue, Polytechnic also is working to increase the number of faculty members who come from underserved or underrepresented populations. Of the 197 clinical and tenured track faculty at the West Lafayette campus and statewide, 42 are women (up from 32 in 2013) and 17 are from underrepresented minority groups (up from seven in 2013).

Polytechnic's mission statement reads: Purdue Polytechnic Institute is committed to creating an inclusive and intellectually stimulating environment where its faculty, staff and students, from many diverse backgrounds and life experiences, are treated equitably and with respect. Diversity is inclusive, celebrates differences and common ground, and promotes respect among all people. A culture of openness of ideas and thoughts in learning, research and engagement in the College and across campus is essential. We value the inherent possibilities in creating an environment where a range of life experiences and scholarly expertise add to our inclusiveness.





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