Community college students are often excluded from conversations around broadening participation in STEM, particularly in the fields of engineering and computer science (ECS).
To better understand this issue and provide a solution, the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) conducted a phased research study of ECS transfer students to understand the success of women and minority students on this pathway towards a baccalaureate degree.
Findings from this research led to the development of SWE’s Community College Affiliate Support and Expansion (CCASE) Program. CCASE aims to increase support for SWE Community College Affiliates across the United States with direct financial and membership incentives to help facilitate professional development and outreach activities.
One of those SWE Affiliates is at Springfield Technical Community College (SWE STCC) in Springfield, Massachusetts. Learn more about this upstart affiliate and their on-campus work!
Please Share a Brief History of Your SWE Affiliate. When Was It Founded? How Many Members Do You Have?
Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) is one of 15 community colleges in Massachusetts and the only technical community college in the Commonwealth. Serving multiple sectors of the Massachusetts innovation economy with cutting-edge engineering and engineering technology programs, STCC is a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) committed to broadening STEM participation and promoting STEM pathways for all.
The STCC SWE Affiliate was chartered in 2014, only the fourth community college affiliate in the nation. STCC SWE serves to raise the profile of women in engineering and related STEM majors on campus and provide a supportive peer community for women in male-dominated degree programs. Members say that SWE is “a built-in support system, always encouraging me to do better and help further my education as a woman in a male-dominated field” and that SWE helps them “feel connected to the campus STEM community” and find “social and academic support not otherwise found.”
How Often Do You Meet? Can You Describe a Typical Meeting?
Overall, we let students take the lead on meeting frequency, structure, and content, as each year’s group has a different dynamic and needs. Typically, however, STCC SWE meets once a month for about an hour. The faculty advisor and SWE counselor attend each meeting, and other faculty members often join as well. Attendance at meetings fluctuates; sometimes, only 6-8 students attend, but we have about 20-25 at some meetings.
Meetings offer hands-on activities like friendship bracelet kits, adult coloring books, K’NEX sets, or Legos. These creative activities serve as effective icebreakers, allowing students to connect in a relaxed environment without the pressure of small talk or awkward, post-COVID eye contact, and often lead to spontaneous, meaningful conversations. While seemingly trivial, these activities are a nice break from the grind of classes, jobs, and other obligations and allow students to relax — to just “be” — in a welcoming, safe space.
Every meeting also includes a discussion of business matters, such as planning a guest speaker, service project, or upcoming event. Speakers might be professionals who focus on career pathways, STCC alumnae now working in the field, or a guest appearance by our STEM dean or other administrator. Some are organized around specific themes — for example, advising and course selection during registration periods or practicing gratitude in November.
Meetings are often devoted to service activities that support other campus groups. Currently, STCC SWE is organizing a canned food drive for the campus food pantry and will decorate and package cookies to honor veterans on campus for Veterans Day. Other meetings are dedicated to practical topics, such as scholarship opportunities and application tips, and resume and cover letter review. Pizza and refreshments are always provided!
How Do You Attract New Members and Keep Them Engaged Throughout the Year?
While we tried to maintain our meeting schedule during the pandemic shutdown, it was difficult to engage virtually. Now, of course, we’re back to in-person meetings and are rebuilding what was once an active, robust affiliate. And for faculty, a large part of these meetings is listening to learn what students want more of and what engages them as SWE members and as members of our campus community.
This year, we’re focused on service and messaging across campus to raise our visibility and engage and recruit more students. For example, we are developing an “I AM STCC SWE” campaign using our social media platforms and posters around campus.
What Are Your Community College Affiliate Goals for the Remainder of the School Year?
Our overarching goal for this academic year is to hold space for STCC women in engineering — to provide resources and support in holistic ways, help students build critical peer and faculty relationships, raise visibility, and give voice on campus, in SWE, and beyond.
Big-picture objectives include more effective use of social media platforms (i.e., LinkedIn, Instagram) to tell the community college story; expanded membership in the affiliate; and strengthening of student leadership skills for STCC SWE officers. Month-to-month, we aim to host another speaker (we’ve had one thus far this year); start a vision board project for students; and further develop and execute our “I AM STCC SWE” messaging campaign on campus and on social media. We continue to involve the affiliate in campus events and in service projects that assist other STCC students with an eye toward involvement in community groups (Girls Inc., for example).
How Does the CCASE Program Help Your SWE Affiliate Accomplish These Goals?
CCASE offers annual stipends to affiliates for professional development activities or outreach. These stipends fund our service projects, honoraria for speakers, printing costs for our campus poster campaign, and activities and food for monthly meetings. CCASE funding is critical for our success as an affiliate!
Is There Anything Else About the STCC SWE Community College Affiliate You Would Like to Share With the SWE Community?
The inherent diversity in the community college population is integral to a diverse engineering workforce. Recruiting and retaining community college women in engineering and related STEM fields is good for students, good for engineering, and good for society. While there are challenges to establishing and maintaining SWE in the non-traditional community college environment, the upside for students cannot be outweighed. Success requires elevating both issues and solutions. And SWE is part of the solution.
STCC SWE has been a proud leader in engaging community college women in engineering since 2014, and thanks CCASE, SWE, and Springfield Technical Community College for their support!
