More Women Don Hard Hats and Business Suits

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Cavalier Daily

Cavalier Daily

1975-09-03

Cavalier Daily

More Women Don Hard Hats and Business Suits
Co-eds, the traditional mainstay of the teaching and home economics departments, are expanding their interests and their career opportunities by enrolling in previously “male only” fields, from diesel mechanics to forestry.
According to the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, a combination of new employment opportunities, special counseling programs and increasing self-assurance among students is having its effect upon enrollment patterns in the 318 state colleges and universities which are members.
Enrollments in many of the technical fields are disproving the myth that women “aren’t mechanical.”
Although the number of women enrolled in new fields is still a small percentage of the total, the reports form the campuses indicate that the traditional barriers have been broken, and that career opportunities can be selected by interest, not habit. The potential seems limitless.
At the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, five women are studying to become qualified athletic trainers; at present, only 40 women in the country are certified athletic trainers. One of the oldest conservation programs in the country, located at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, now has women enrolled in wildlife management, soil science and forestry.
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point provides special counseling to these women students;l such special efforts demonstrate new awareness by state colleges and universities to expanding opportunities for women.