The CEE department’s freshman class boasts a record number of women for the academic year 2009-2010.  An unprecedented 32 percent of matriculating civil and environmental engineering freshmen, 53 out of 164, are women, according to Professor and Associate Head David A. Lange.

Civil engineering is increasingly attractive to the current generation of high school students who value service-oriented career paths, Lange says.

“Young women value the opportunity to help build our neighborhoods and cities and contribute to public safety and health,” he says.

Increasing the participation of women is a priority of the College of Engineering through its Women in Engineering program.  Recruitment starts as early as middle school with summer camps such as Girls’ Adventures in Mathematics, Engineering and Science (GAMES).  The CEE department has supported GAMES by sponsoring activity sessions during the week-long camp.

The College of Engineering works to develop the camaraderie of women students through events that encourage scholarship and social interaction.

“We see the incoming freshman class as an important opportunity to engage and retain women students,” Lange says.

Photo: CEE's historic class of freshman women.