Educating and Empowering
Student Change Agents
in the College of Engineering
Alexis Nelson
Program Operations Specialist, UW ADVANCE
Graduate Student, College of Education
January 30, 2015
Samuel E. Kelly Ethnic Cultural Center
Road Map
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
PEERs Program Overview
Seminar Background
Seminar Topics
Curricular Approaches
Outcomes
Implementation
PEERs Overview
Background
National Science Foundation
Engineering
Grant HRD-0833338
Campus
Climate
Survey
Capacity
Building
Institute
Student
Leaders
Seminar
PEERs Seminar
Goals
Raise Awareness
Cultivate
Change Agents
Promote Action
PEERs Seminar
Identities
Race
Ability
Socioecon
Status
Gender
Sexual
Orientation
Ethnicity
Intersections of Identities
Seminar Topics
Why
Diversity
Matters
Allyship
Privilege
Stereotypes
& Belonging
Structural
& Implicit
Bias
Socialization
Curricular & Pedagogical Approaches
Peer-to-Peer
Jigsaw
Groups
ContextSpecific
Curricular & Pedagogical Approaches
Peer-to-Peer
Jigsaw
Groups
Community
Presentations
Student
Panel
Curricular & Pedagogical Approaches
ContextSpecific
EngineeringSpecific
Content
Digestible
Research
Personal
Outcomes: Differences in Understanding
2.52
4.45
Before
After
Understanding of how institutions may unintentionally perpetuate bias in engineering
2.69
4.59
Understanding of the deeper consequences of bias in engineering education
2.97
4.62
Understanding of the concept of white privilege
3.48
4.62
Understanding of the importance of being an ally to those from underrepresented groups
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
4.5
5
Outcomes: Differences in Action
Before
After
2.79
3.90
Challenge situations of bias when I observe them
2.17
3.83
Cite data related to diversity in conversations with others
3.00
4.24
I feel equipped to be a proactive agent in countering bias in the College of Engineering
3.03
4.07
Make positive contributions to the engineering community with respect to diversity
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
4.5
Outcomes
Student Quotes
“Material covered was quite different than other subjects
I’ve studied. It was refreshing to get a new perspective on
society and how I fit in it.”
“I learned a bucket load about bias and how to be an ally.
Every week challenged by preconceived notions.”
“It was very interesting to learn about diversity and discuss
with my classmates. Diversity is not something that everyone
feels comfortable talking about, so it was nice.”
Implementation & Conclusion
Students are receptive to diversity research
Students appreciate a forum to discuss identity and diversity
Students transfer knowledge into action
Students are vital to transformation of climate in engineering
“In reality, everybody knows that we are having this conversation
about diversity in engineering, but few people explicity
acknowledge this conversation. The PEERs program works
because they have provided a forum for that conversation.”
~PEERs Student