Industry involvement in the Women in Applied Science and Engineering (WISE) recruiting and retention programs

Industry has recognized that the employment of women and minorities is critical in maintaining a diverse and progressive engineering environment. It has played a significant role in the Women in Applied Science and Engineering (WISE) recruitment programs. For example, industry has offered financial support, sponsored company tours and initiated the participation of engineers to serve as educators and speakers for both middle school and high school summer programs. In addition, industry has played a significant role in WISE retention programs including the multi-tiered mentor program and onsite shadow program. These programs foster relationships between students and engineers and help bridge the gap between education and employment. Finally, industry members have further strengthened collaborative efforts by serving on the WISE industry advisory committee and participating as industry panel members at various events. An overview of WISE programs that involve industry support are presented as well as a discussion of the impact industry has made on these particular programs. In addition, the mutual benefits of industry supported pre-college recruitment and college retention programs are discussed.