February 24 1999
KU's chemical engineering program has the highest number of female degree recipients among the engineering school's 10 undergraduate degree programs. In 1998, 46 percent of bachelor's degrees in chemical engineering at KU went to women. In 1997, women earned 40 percent. The national average for chemical engineering degrees awarded to women for those two years was 33 percent.
In 1997 and 1998, the overall percentage of women receiving undergraduate degrees in engineering at KU was slightly higher than the national average--19.23 percent to 18.65 percent in 1998, and 18.73 percent to 18.68 percent in 1997--according to the American Association of Engineering Societies.
The KU Women's Engineering Program holds two annual events to help high-school students realize that engineering is a career possibility for women. "Engineering Your Career," set this year for Feb. 26, is a half day of panel discussions with KU engineering faculty, women engineers and female engineering students at KU. "Engineering Your Career" runs in conjunction with Engineering Expo, the school's open house.
The second event for high school women is "Project Discovery," a weeklong engineering summer camp that gives young women the opportunity to experience an actual engineering curriculum.
Participants attend lectures and take part in labs taught by KU engineering faculty. This year, Project Discovery will be June 6-12.
For questions about either event, contact Florence E. Boldridge at (785) 864-3620.