Cultural Models Of The Admissions Process In Engineering: Views On The Role Of Gender

The view that women get into the college easier than men was prevalent among students, despite the fact that UWest has been effectively banned by State law for almost a decade from treating a student preferentially because of her gender. This cultural model of engineering admission at UWest has implications for students' experiences in the college. We see some women reporting a belief that if there are different standards for men and women, then women must be less able than their male counterparts. The men also indicate that the programs specifically for women mark women as different and needing support. The women want to prove that they are not just filling a quota. At UWest this study has helped to initiate conversations about revisiting the admissions process and policies. We should also be concerned that this cultural model seems to force women to “go underground” when they need help, and avoid working in teams with their male peers. We argue that it is important that we understand what both men and women admit to believing about the reasons these programs exist.