Is Coop Key to Female Engineering Student Retention?
Virginia Tech is the co-recipient of a $499,990 three-year National Science Foundation grant to study how cooperative education and related on-the-job experiences affect female undergraduate engineering students. The study, Pathways to Work Self-Efficacy and Retention of Women in Undergraduate Engineering, is one of the first to investigate how co-op opportunities and other formal work experience programs impact the retention rate of female undergraduate engineering students. In addition, the study will examine programs, such as mentoring, advising, and academic living communities, to see how they contribute to self-efficacy and retention. Coops are available at many accredited engineering programs in the U.S. — but the range of offerings varies considerably. Some universities offer wide options at many different firms, while others only have a few offerings. It is a good idea to ask about coop options when considering attending a particular university, and also to chat with existing
