Our Goals and Objectives

"By the year 2000, 85 percent of the new entrants to the work force in the United States will be women and minorities. Yet statistics today show that people in these groups do not generally enter careers in engineering or science. Although women make up 51 percent of today's population in the U.S., only 11 percent are employed as engineers or scientists." - Glynis A. Hinschberger, Former SWE President

What is SWE?

The Society of Women Engineers was founded in 1950 and is a non-profit educational service organization composed of graduate engineers, women and men with equivalent engineering experience, and science and engineering students. SWE has an international membership of more than 14,000 in 79 local sections and 277 student sections. SWE Corporate membership is available to organizations that employ engineers and are interested in supporting the goals of the Society. The MSU student chapter of SWE is part of Region H, which is composed of chapters from Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.

Our Mission

The Society of Women Engineers stimulates women to achieve full potential in careers as engineers and leaders, expands the image of the engineering profession as a positive force in improving the quality of life, and demonstrates the value of diversity.

Objectives

  • To inform young women, their parents, counselors, and the general public of the qualifications and achievements of women engineers and the opportunities available to them.
  • To assist women engineers in readying themselves for a return to active work after temporary retirement.
  • To encourage women engineers to attain high levels of education and professional achievement.
  • To serve as a center of information on women in the professional field of engineering.

Membership Benefits

  • Registration discounts to the annual national convention and student conferences.
  • Access to women's issues in engineering.
  • SWE, the Magazine of the Society of Women Engineers, a bi-monthly publication.
  • SWE membership pin (new members).
  • Free listing in the SWE Resume Database System.
  • Opportunities for networking with fellow professionals and for leadership training.
  • Affiliation with local SWE section.
  • Access to SWE library/videos.