WEPAN Newsletter May 2023

Attend the ADVANCE EiSCC Virtually

Can't make it to the ADVANCE EiSCC? Join us virtually! Virtual attendees will have access to the live streamed plenary sessions (through the event app). Additionally, virtual attendees have event app access for networking, viewing presenter materials, and using other features. Register at: https://registration.socio.events/e/equityinstemcc2023

Events

News

Join the AAC&U Convergence Fellowship Program

The American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U), through generous support from the Henry Luce Foundation, now invites applications from BIPOC women in STEM for its Convergence Fellowship Program.

The Convergence Fellowship Progam is an incubator program that provides BIPOC women in STEM with early entrepreneurial education, access to mentors, and viable connections to an investor network that is culturally responsive, empowering, and fully committed to promoting social justice through the scientific and technological innovations of BIPOC women.

During this yearlong program, participants will learn about business modeling, product development, finance, and intellectual property in addition to grappling with the systems and structures that marginalize people of color within STEM and society, at large.

Prior entrepreneurial experience is NOT required for acceptance into the Program. The deadline to submit your application is on or before June 26, 2023. Read more and apply at: https://aacu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_418MhIyXSoTUpFQ.

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Join NCWIT's Higher Learning Circles

The National Center for Women and Information Technology (NCWIT ) provides FREE and customized professional development to computing departments seeking to diversify their student bodies, and is RECRUITING NOW for this program! The professional development takes place via NCWIT HigherEd Learning Circles.

Among other benefits, Learning Circle participants will receive guidance from an NCWIT HigherEd research scientist and facilitated access to NCWIT’s Tech Inclusion Journey for Undergraduate Programs. Joining a Learning Circle will also help departments identify goals and activities that make sense for their departmental context, leaving them well-prepared to develop and implement an NSF broadening participation in computing (BPC) plan!

You can learn more about the initiative on the Learning Circles webpage and express your interest by completing an interest form. NCWIT will form the Learning Circles this summer, so express your interest soon to secure your spot!

WEPAN Listserv

Do you have something to tell the WEPAN community? Remember that subscription to the WEPAN-L listserv is a member benefit! Share announcements, post publication opportunities, and collaborate with colleagues from different institutions and organizations on special projects.

To subscribe to the WEPAN-L listserv, visit: lists.purdue.edu/mailman/listinfo/wepan-l

Resources

Publications, reports, or communications relevant to women in engineering and STEM equity. All resources listed below are available in the ARC Network online resource library. If you need help accessing the library, please contact ARC Librarian Bethany Farmer at bethany@wepan.org.  

• Changing the Conversation: Messages for Improving Public Understanding of Engineering" by the National Academy of Engineering

"Can the United States continue to lead the world in innovation? The answer may hinge in part on how well the public understands engineering, a key component of the 'innovation engine'. A related concern is how to encourage young people--particularly girls and under-represented minorities--to consider engineering as a career option. Changing the Conversation provides actionable strategies and market-tested messages for presenting a richer, more positive image of engineering. This book presents and discusses in detail market research about what the public finds most appealing about engineering--as well as what turns the public off."

ARC Network

Funded by the National Science Foundation ADVANCE Program, Awards HRD-2121468 and HRD-1740860, the ADVANCE Resource and Coordination (ARC) Network seeks to achieve gender equity for faculty in higher education science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. WEPAN serves as the backbone organization of the ARC Network.‍

Read and Give Feedback on the Latest ARC Emerging Research Workshop Reports

The two newest reports from the ARC Network's Emerging Research Workshops have been released. The reports, "Using Big Data and Algorithms to Foster Equity in STEM" and "Cultivating Equity In STEM Through Inclusive Language," cover research and promising practices on each of the topics and suggest new directions for future work. We invite the community to share their expertise on the topics.

To read the reports and share your input visit https://www.equityinstem.org/about-emerging-research-workshops
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Join WEPAN

Want to encourage your institution to deepen its commitment to equity and excellence?

Consider becoming a 30 for 30 Institutional Champion Member. At this membership level, institutions have unlimited member representatives who get to dive into critical diversity, equity, and inclusion issues through custom workshops. These members also get the opportunity to strengthen their inclusive leadership capacity as part of the Equity and Excellence Council. Additional 30 for 30 Institutional Champion member benefits include:

• Professional Development
• Decades of resources in the WEPAN Knowledge Center
• Professional development webinars, including one featuring an invited speaker from your institution
• Free and discounted workshops, including one customized for your institution
• Free and discounted access to WEPAN’s Program Days
• Three annual convening registrations
• Communication & Networking
• WEPAN-L listserv
• Slack
• WEPAN member directory
• Social media spotlights of your institution
• Workforce
• Free and discounted job postings for your institution in WEPAN’s Career Center

For more information on how to become a 30 for 30 Institutional Member, please email membership@wepan.org.

Get Involved

Committees

We are looking for visionary members to join our committees and influence programming and member experiences. If you are interested in being a member of a WEPAN committee, please complete this survey: https://forms.gle/ZQyijAGNtPYYtNTV9

Slack Channel

Please join us on Slack to drive that connectivity across our membership during a critical time for connection. Join our Slack community today!

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