Education Committee

Sarah H. Rockett, M.A., Chair

Purpose/Description

The purpose of the Education Committee is to advise and assist the RICW on all education related issues pertaining to women.  The committee is made up of members of the Commission who choose to work on educational issues as well as non members from the community who have volunteered to work on specific projects.

Goals:

One of the goals of the Education Committee in FY 2005 - 2006 has been to develop a long-range project regarding women in non-traditional trades. A non-traditional trade is defined by the Department of Labor as an occupation in which women comprise 25 percent or less of total employment.  It is still the case that women are not entering fields traditionally held by men, even though those jobs generally pay more than the jobs traditionally held by women.  The Committee began to gather data and to assess the issue of inequity in this area.  Initial connections to other organizations interested in the issue have been made, specifically:

• The U.S. Department of Labor Women’s Bureau
• Rhode Island Department of Transportation
• University of Rhode Island Urban Field Center
• National Organization of Women in Construction
• Big Sisters
• SER Jobs For Progress, Inc.

Another goal of the Education Committee in FY 2006 was to work in collaboration with the Association of Rhode Island Women in Higher Education (RIWHE) to develop and maintain a mentoring program for student ages 18 -23 in higher educational institutions in Rhode Island who are clients of the Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF). These students are allowed to remain in the DCYF program, and are permitted to receive financial help from DCYF provided that they remain in school. The mentors for this program are selected from the professional members of RIWHE who volunteer their time and expertise in offering educational and emotional support to the students.