A program for WISE women at NC State.(Women in Science and Engineering, North Carolina State University)

It seems to take a village to raise a child. Mindful of the influence of like-minded others on a student's success, North Carolina State University supports women students as they major in science and engineering with a WISE Village. One of seven special interest living communities on campus, the Village is part of a comprehensive program created to recruit and retain female students in technical fields.

WISE (Women in Science and Engineering) targets academics, networking, social concerns and living arrangements. Objectives include increasing women's retention and graduation rates, boosting their enrollment in graduate school and expanding their career options in science and engineering. At the NASPA/ACPA conference held in Orlando in April, Tresa Barlage, assistant director of university housing, and graduate assistants Erika Bowles and Melisuan Wright, spoke about WISE. Major challenges

Right out of the gate, women majoring in science or engineering face major challenges:

* Women on average have less spatial ability.

* Women often lack the needed academic preparation for science and engineering classes.

* Women have fewer positive experiences with science and technology.

* Women find a chilly climate and few role models.