UWEP recieves criticism from skeptics

Click on the headline above to visit a site which criticizes UWEP and its mission. Considering the facts behind the project, what is your opinion? Voice it! We want to hear it!

UWEP Summit featured in Deseret News

Visit www.DeseretNews.com or click on the headline above to read a full article regarding the UWEP summit recently featured in the Deseret News.

UWEP highlighted by commissioner of higher education in Utah

Photo courtesy of William A. Sederburg

UWEP was recently spotlighted on "Bill’s Blog", the brainchild of Utah Commissioner of Higher Education William A. Sederburg.

He recalled the UWEP summit and introduced the topics covered, particularly the project's original findings.

Sederburg explained the collective goal to increase the degree attainment of Utah's adult population to 66 percent by 2020. Hence, there is a necessity to increase female degree obtainment.

Utah female college graduation rates have only dipped below the national average since 1993, whereas they previously exceeded the national average. An undeniable issue has developed, and UWEP has taken great strides in identifying and analyzing the problems within the puzzle.

Concerned with the mindset of Utah women, Sederburg highlighted the finding that women often plan to merely "[go] to college" rather than continue and complete a degree.

He also explained the finding that the women studied didn't seem to have much support from close friends, family and leaders. Although open dialogue about the possibilities for their future proved very influential for those who experienced it, most did not have this advantage.

The last result he introduced was the lack of financial support Utah women tend to receive for college. This presents a huge burden to young women and often makes the option of higher education seem nonexistent.

"While meeting the workforce needs of the state is important, it is also critical to help women achieve a better future. The Utah rate of divorce matches that of the nation (nearly 50%), our per capita income is almost 80% that of the national average. Thus on a personal level, we need to help women attend, and complete, institutions of higher education," urged Sederburg.

To read his full original blog post, click on the headline of this article.

UWEP Summit enormous success

The long-awaited summit was reached Nov. 12 and was met with substantial attendance, genuine enthusiasm and support.

Welcome came from UWEP Director Susan R. Madsen and UVU President Matthew Holland as people settled in their seats and prepared themselves for the newest results of the ongoing study.

William A. Sederburg, Utah commissioner of higher education, and Larry K. Shumway, state superintendent of public instruction gave the opening remarks.

The most current Utah demographics were highlighted by Pamela S. Perlich, senior research economist in the Utah Bureau of Economic and Business Research. This relevant information created the context for the work and mission of UWEP.

Following Perlich, Madsen and research partner Cheryl Hanewicz introduced the UWEP study results.

In a second session, the extensive results continued to be presented by Madsen, Hanewicz, Susan Thackeray and Doug Gardner. The information offered at the summit is substantial; the general information will be more widely available in future.

Keep updated with the blog to receive detailed information regarding original results of the UWEP.

UWEP featured in Salt Lake Tribune

The Salt Lake Tribune highlighted the UWEP on Nov. 12, explaining its relevant mission and introducing its then upcoming summit.

Trends such as younger marriages, earlier childbearing and higher number of children could threaten the competitive ability of Utah, pointed out SLTrib writer Brian Maffly.

Jody Farley, who dropped out of college at age 22 to help support her young family, is labeled an exception in the article since she eventually completed her bachelor’s degree in family and consumer studies at the University of Utah a quarter-century later. Most do not go back to obtain the degrees they left behind.

The article points out that in order for the board of regents to reach its goal of
increasing degree obtainment from 39 percent to 56 percent by 2020, women will need to come closer to the national trend.

Some general details are provided regarding UWEP research, including how studies were conducted and sample information.

To read the full article click on the headline above.

Summit highlighted in UVU Review

The upcoming Utah Women and Education Summit was featured in the Nov. 8 issue of the UVU Review.

The article explains that, while previously released information centered around existing literature, the summit will disseminate original findings that apply specifically to Utah women.

Not only will the summit address UWEP's research, it will also instigate dialogue regarding the transformation of research into action.

Additionally, the full-length research articles scheduled to be released this spring will involve the findings of original data and their implications.

To read the full article, click on the headline above or visit www.uvureview.com

Utah Women and Education Summit

The Utah Women and Education Summit will be held on Friday, Nov. 12 from 8:30 a.m.- 1:30 p.m. at the Utah Valley University Sorensen Student Center (SC 206).

The UWEP will present its 2009-2010 research findings. The state-wide conference will also instigate necessary dialogue regarding the steps needed to transform research into action.

Anyone interested in the content of the summit is welcome to attend. Register for the summit on our website by clicking on the above headline.

Emphasizing the intrinsic value of education

Image courtesy of UVU Review

The UWEP was recently highlighted in the opinions section of the UVU Review. Author Celeste Rosenlof started off by explaining the decrease in female college completion compared to the nation, and continued by advocating the work of the UWEP and the importance of education for Utah women.

The need to remain competitive in today's economy concerned Rosenlof because educational attainment plays a large role in the hiring process, and if women are neglecting their education their chances of success will be dismal.

"What that means for married Utah women who stay at home is that in a case where they need a job, such as during an economic recession, their lack of education may make it more difficult to be competitive in their application for jobs, especially for jobs with more flexible hours and a decent salary or wage," Rosenlof said.

She explained that the more education a woman has, the more options will be presented to her. A larger pool of options, along with abundant access to various avenues of communication, can allow women to more readily work from home and simultaneously bridge the gap between work and family life.

Although many Utah women undoubtedly believe in an either/or system (either career or family life), Rosenlof claims that the two choices are not polar opposites.

"Education and family can coexist; in fact, they may be intrinsic to the success of one another," Rosenlof said.

She concludes by emphasizing that getting an education is extremely important, and is never a waste of time even if an individual doesn't end up having a career in their field of study. The knowledge they accumulate will be valuable in both career and family settings.

To view her full article, click on the above headline and be directed to www.UVUReview.com

UWEP partners with 2-1-1

In an effort to increase accessibility of education resources in Utah, particularly for women, UWEP has chosen to partner with 2-1-1 Information and Referral, a free program associated with Utah Food Bank Services.

Those who use 2-1-1 are able to access an abundance of information, yet they were previously lacking when it came to education resources. This new transition will simplify the search for students, allowing them to utilize a consolidated database to answer the questions they have.

For more information about 2-1-1, visit www.211ut.org. For further details about the UWEP/2-2-1 integration, click on the headline above to read related press.

The value of education exceeds mere occupational advantages

In a recent KSL article, Director of the Utah Women and Education Project Susan Madsen expresses concern at the tendency of Utah women to value education for occupational pursuits only, rather than realizing the overall advantages of higher education.

While a decline in female graduation rates will inevitably hurt Utah's economy, Madsen is simply unsettled by the seeming trivialization of higher education in the minds of Utah women. Whether the mindset of viewing education as insignificant stems from parents, teachers, counselors, spiritual leaders, the women themselves, or more likely a combination of influences, this is a mindset that calls for evaluation and intervention.

The objective of the UWEP is to study the reasoning behind Utah women not attending or opting out of universities before they can receive a diploma. In so doing, it aims to shed light on the many influences affecting the educational pursuits of young women, and therein provide a foundation from which participating parties can better inform and encourage women to obtain degrees.

To read the article, click on the headline of this post.

The global role of women

NPR host Neal Conan recently interviewed the former President of Ireland Ms. Mary Robinson, Managing Director of the World Bank Ms. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and New York Times Columnist and Author Mr. Nicholas Kristof regarding the changing role of women throughout the world.

Each of these individuals are participating in projects to advance women's role and welfare on a global scale.

Robinson began the organization "Realizing Rights, the ethical globalization initiative" which is working to attain human rights for all through a "rounded approach that also looks at discrimination, [and] lack of equality," Robinson said in the interview.

One situation from which Robinson derived hope for future advancements was when the president of Sierra Leone declared "free medical care, free health care for pregnant women, for lactating mothers and for children under five."

Okonjo-Iweala and her associates are collecting evidence from developing nations regarding gender productivity and the resulting impact on economies. She explained an agricultural study carried on in Kenya, during which men and women were given the same access to resources and information, yet women proved 40 percent more productive than men.

"So the bottom line is there are 205 million girls in the world, adolescent girls, and 72 million of them are out of school. If we invest in them, with this kind of figures that I've given you, we are really going to have a tremendous economic impact on the world in poor countries," Okonjo-Iweala said in the interview.

While living in China, Kristof noticed many girls leaving school because they could not afford the associated fees. After writing a column regarding this issue for the New York Times, funding poured in from all kinds of sources and it revolutionized the educational system in that area, where girls are now allowed to stay in school as long as they keep up their grades.

"Clearly all kinds of injustices happen to women around the world, but I think that what has really gained traction is the sense that, you know, women and girls aren't the problem, they are the solution," Kristof said in the interview.

The entire interview is an inspiring read, so click on the above headline to access it in its entirety if you are interested in reading more.

The education of women strongly correlated to decreased childhood mortality

The Sept. 18 issue of The Lancet featured an article titled "The benefits of educating women" in which John Cleland highlighted a recent study linking parental education and child mortality in developing nations.

The claim was made that "Mothers' schooling is a more decisive influence than is fathers." The correlation between a mother's mindful care of her children and survival is much higher than the correlation of increased income.

The study concludes that the reduction in child mortality is in large part due to the increased education of women since 1970 in the countries studied.

Mothers tend to have more influence over sickness, disease prevention and hygiene. Also relevant, the more education a mother has received, the more likely she will be to take her child to a health care facility.

The study, done by Emmanuela Gakidou, also connected the education of women to decreased birth rates, which stabilize population growth and decrease poverty.

With education playing such a large role in developing nations, it is no doubt education also plays a decisive role in the lives of Utah women and their families. Studies continue to conclude that educating women is a crucial component of having successful families and a diversified and functional economy.

To read the full article, click on the headline of this article and sign up to have access to content within The Lancet for free.

The Utah Women and Education Project featured on KSL

Utah Women and Education Project Director Susan Madsen and Dr. Cheryl Hanewicz, assistant professor in Technology Management at UVU, were highlighted on KSL Aug. 29.

They were interviewed regarding their research into the higher education gap between Utah men and women.

Madsen explained that the intial work of the project has gone straight to the source: the young women of Utah. They have been talking to women from various backgrounds, trying to piece together the puzzle of why some women choose to complete a higher education while some do not.

"We really want to understand what they are thinking," Madsen said during the interview.

Deciphering how numerous influences affect the mindset and ambitions of Utah women will be no easy task. Thereafter developing methods to encourage them to obtain college degrees will be equally difficult.

And yet, these women, along with their supporters, are prepared for the challenge. Their dedication to improving the educational experience of Utah women is unyielding.

"Education is so much more important than just getting a job. It's good for the family, they're more involved in their communities, healthier, wealthier families," Hanewicz said in the interview.

Their findings will be presented at the Utah Women and Education Summit scheduled for Nov. 12, 2010.

Identifying a College Path For All: A Conference For Counselors

In an effort to encourage those involved in higher education to create a college experience that is accessible to all women, a conference is being held on Sept. 17 at Salt Lake Community College, Miller Campus.

The conference will allow counselors to contemplate and refine their methods and to learn how to maximize the positive affect they have on young women.

Dr. Susan R. Madsen, project director of the Utah Women & Education Project and associate professor of Management at Utah Valley University, will instigate dialogue regarding the obstacles Utah women currently face and identify ways in which individuals can assist women in pursuit of college degrees.

If you are interested in attending the event, click on this post's headline and register today!

Thank You!

Over the last few months, over 200 individuals have participated in live and online sessions for this project. I think I can safely say that this has been an interesting journey for all of us.

Today we had the final "official" participant take the survey, so we can now move on to the next phase of the project. I say '"official" participant' because we still have several more completing the survey, but we reached our goal for the number of participants that we have been looking for.

In addition to everyone who participated, I want to thank all of the volunteers, interns, students, and faculty from the various locations around the state that helped make this portion of the project successful! We couldn't have done it without YOU, so thank you for your time, energy, dedication, and enthusiasm for this project!

As we move on to analysis for the next few months, we have several other portions of the project that will be completed, so check back in with us and see what's going on!

Final Call for Participants

It's been several months and a lot of work but we still need 15 more participants in order for us to move forward into the next phase of the project-analysis! Also, we have expanded our search to include college graduates.

We are looking for two groups of people.

First group:

1) Females between 18 and 30 years old (the details say 28, but we will take up to age 30).
2) have lived in UT for at least 5 year, and preferably attended high school here or grew up here.
3) has not attended a traditional college (i.e., UVU, SUU, SLCC) or stopped attending within three semesters.
4) has no intention of going to school in the near future.

Second group:

1.) Have lived in Utah at least ten years-preferably someone who grew up here.
2.) Between the ages of 22 and 32
3.) Attended college directly after high school and graduated within five years of starting college.
4.) Has at least a bachelor's degree.

Follow the link in the heading title for more information. If you or someone you know would like to participate, please email me at njohnson@uvu.edu

Pilot Study Success!

We did our pilot study this morning-dragged our poor volunteers out of bed at 7:30 A.M., but at least we fed them breakfast for their kindness. The pilot study consisted of 9 volunteers and took about two hours to complete. We are so thankful that they were willing to put up with the glitches we found so that our future sessions will go much more smoothly.



I took a few pictures this morning so people can see what we are doing (I won't take any pictures at any other sessions, but these volunteers were great and said they wouldn't mind). As you can see, each person has their own computer and there isn't any talking between participants. It's really like taking an online survey, because everything is typed directly into the system. Most are short quick questions, but some require more thought and time since we really want as much detail as a person is willing to give. It's a painless process and really interesting, so if you are interested please let me know. We haven't filled all of our May slots yet and could use some great volunteers like we had this morning! And, you won't just get food, but you'll also get a $25 gift card!

Research Volunteers Needed.

Major progress is being made and recruitment has started! Here are some of the highlights if you are interested in participating:

• It will be held at Utah Valley University in the evening of May 13, 2010.

• Your expected time commitment is approximately two hours; however, we would invite you to arrive 15-30 minutes early to check in and eat a light dinner.

• You will receive a $25 gift certificate for your time and participation in the study.

• Parking expenses will be covered.

• You will use a provided laptop in this session and will be typing your own responses to questions.

• The risks of this study are minimal.

• Your name will be kept confidential.

• Your participation is voluntary and, even if you come, you are still free to withdraw at any time and without giving a reason.


We are specifically looking for young women who meet the following criteria:

• High school graduate/GED recipient (or graduating in May) with no additional post-secondary education (18-22 years of age)

• OR - Attended college full-time (preferably at a Utah public university/college) for only one to two semesters (18-24 years of age)

• Proficient in English (speaking and writing)

• Strong typing skills

• Lived in Utah for a minimum of ten years

Please contact us via Facebook or leave a message on the blog by April 5th if you are interested in participating.

Facebook Group and Page

We have a facebook page and group for the WEP project. Please feel free to support and join the WEP movement! The link above is for the group.

Exciting Things are Happening!

So much has happened since beginning this project that it would be impossible to update every thing with one blog, but here is a brief rundown.

1.) We have made great progress in our literature review, but could always use additional assistance if you are interested in being involved.

2.) We created (and have expanded) our State Advisory Committee. This group meets three times a year and will help take the message of WEP to each campus in the USHE system.

3.) We are working on a comprehensive database of resources for women. This database will allow women to search by county or need and provide them with information to help them complete their education. We have added many new interns and volunteers to help with this project, but we can also use more support!

4.) Finally, this week we release our first Research and Policy Brief-"The Value of Higher Education for Women in Utah" and we are very excited about this quarterly brief. Please check it out on our website www.uvu.edu/wep or cut and paste this location into your browser http://uvu.edu/wep/resources/pdfs/UWEP%20Brief%202010-201.pdf

As the excitement and momentum continue, different members of the WEP team will be updating the blog, so feel free to ask any questions or make comments/suggestions about things that we post on our website.

Until next time...