Did you know that a 2020 study showed that women’s colleges confer 50% more bachelor’s degrees in STEM to women of color than their co-ed counterparts? That’s just one of many statistics that show the importance of continued advocacy and championing of women’s colleges.
On October 26, the Women’s College Coalition (WCC) hosted a successful Day of Advocacy in Washington, D.C. Twelve WCC member schools met with top leaders from the White House, NASA, the National Space Council, the Department of Education, the Pentagon, and top women’s education staff from the Hill – among them, aiding to create opportunities directly for women’s college students, was Cedar Crest College’s very own President Meade.
The day proved to be one of marked achievements. Presidents of the WCC met with the White House Office of Public Engagement, White House Gender Policy Council, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, and the National Space Council and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to mark the historic start of the first federal partnership with women’s colleges and universities, for which Cedar Crest College was selected as one of seven institutions to receive funding to tackle the STEM gender gap.
Opening new doors of collaboration and funding for women’s colleges and students is essential to WCC’s mission. After a day of crucial conversations and raising visibility, they laid a necessary foundation with federal agencies and key administration policy advisors to carry on the dialogue to advance institutions while providing greater access and equity for students.
“I was so proud to advocate for the critical role women’s colleges—and Cedar Crest in particular—play in educating a diverse STEM workforce,” says President Meade. “The strong women we met with from the White House, NASA, the Department of Education, and the Pentagon were so receptive to our message and the clear evidence of our effectiveness.”