Women's Engineering Institute (WEI) at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s College of Engineering has initiated a Women’s Engineering Institute, which will be a center of excellence on the Daytona Beach Campus to recruit, retain and serve female engineering undergraduate and graduate students. Part of the College’s strategic plan, the WEI will support the College’s goal to increase female enrollment to a minimum of 20% female students by 2016. The University has already committed significant effort and resources to recruiting and retaining female engineering students. The Engineering Fundamentals Department initiated a 2+2 Women in Engineering Mentoring Program in fall 2006, which later became known as the FIRST Program (Female Initiatives: Reaching Success Together). The FIRST program has been a success and the university’s female retention numbers are increasing. But the College of Engineering numbers are stagnant and further assistance, mentoring and academic and social programming is needed to attract more female students to engineering.