New Online Programs Mentor Women in STEM Education

According to a report in the New York Times, new programs have been created that provide on-line mentoring for women interested in pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

Hundreds of prominent women working in science, technology, engineering and math will become online mentors for college students next month, part of a six-week program to encourage young women to pursue careers in STEM fields.

“I think of this as a MOOC — a massive open online course — and a big mentor-fest,” said Maria Klawe, the president of Harvey Mudd College and a sponsor of the project. “Getting more women into STEM is my passion in life, and every institution that’s set up mentorship programs for young women has been successful at increasing their numbers, so I think this can make a real difference.”

The program has no curriculum, no exam, no grades and no credit — just a goal of connecting young students with accomplished women working in STEM fields. Prominent universities — including the California Institute of Technology, Cornell, the Georgia Institute of Technology, Harvard, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Princeton, Stanford and the University of California, Berkeley — have been quick to sign on, contributing mentors and publicizing the program to students.

According to the article, similar on-line mentoring projects are underway at Athasca University and Empire State College of the State University of New York.

Tags: California Institute of Technology, education & the workforce, Georgia Institute of Technology, Maria Klawe, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, New York Times, social media. MOOC, STEM fields, talent, technology