By Jenny Schuster
Staff Writer

In observance of Women’s History Month, the Council on the Status of Women has planned a set of events corresponding with a University of Minnesota conference titled "Shaping a National Agenda for Women in Higher Education."

Other universities, including Purdue, will participate in the program through satellite teleconferences from 1 to 3 p.m. on Monday and from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on March 29 in Stewart Center, Room 326, according to Barb Clark, director of the women in science programs. These events are open to all students, staff and faculty members.

Lorraine Kisselburgh, member of the Council on the Status of Women, said, "The national conference is designed to involve participants throughout the nation via teleconference methods. The conference encouraged the satellite sites to create discussion sessions to address issues that are important to women on that particular campus."

At Purdue, the Council on the Status of Women determined these topic areas would include women faculty, administrative and support staff women, women in the classroom and balancing work and family.

"The Council on the Status of Women has a longstanding commitment to hosting programs and forums that allow people to discuss current issues impacting the status of women on campus," Kisselburgh said. "Typically we sponsor two major and about six minor programs each academic year."

According to Clark, the Council on the Status of Women has planned the following Brown Bag Discussion Sessions of the topics to be included in Purdue’s report to the teleconference: "Women Administrative and Support Staff" at 11:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. on Wednesday in Liberal Arts and Education Building, Room 1284; "Women in the Classroom" from11:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. on Wednesday in Liberal Arts and Education Building, Room 2275; "Too Busy to Breathe: Balancing Work and Family" from11:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. on Friday in Liberal Arts and Education Building, Room 2275; and "Creating a Comprehensive Agenda for Women at Purdue University" from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on March 28 in Stewart Center, Room 322.

Kisselburgh said, "At each discussion session, participants will be asked to identify the most important issues that impact a topical group (such as women faculty). These issues will be discussed and prioritized and at the fifth and final session, all issues that have been identified will be presented for further discussion and modification. The document resulting from this session will be submitted to the national conference on the afternoon of March 28.

"On the final day of the teleconference, issues that have been raised throughout the nation will be included in a single platform, creating an agenda that is appropriate for women at any institute of higher education."

In addition, from 7 to 9 p.m. on March 28 in the Krannert Auditorium, the Women in Science and Women in Engineering programs will sponsor a presentation titled "Science and Engineering in the 21st Century: Will Women Be Full Players?" Clark said the featured speakers include Dr. Jane Butler Kahle, who is a former faculty member in the School of Science at Purdue and on leave from Miami University to the National Science Foundation, is a nationally recognized expert in science education and gender equity. She will share her vision of the role played by women in technical fields in the 21st century.

At this presentation Clark said that Cynthia Stohl, head of the department of communication at Purdue, will seek opinions from audience members in response to Kahle’s presentation.

The Council on the Status of Women will include a summary of this discussion in its final report to the national conference, Clark said.