Mount Holyoke College encouraging women to study sciences

SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. (WWLP) - Mount Holyoke College wants to more women to study science, and to do so, they have begun a program to recruit more students for the sciences.

Professors say the program bridges a gap, as historically, women have been underrepresented in the sciences.

With the help of a $600,000 grant from the National Science Foundation , Mount Holyoke recruited seven students from community colleges across the country to join.

Chair of the biology department, Sarah Bacon, says that only five percent of women complete associates degrees in science, technology, engineering, and math; also known as the STEM fields. The students will transfer-in as juniors and finish their science studies at Mount Holyoke.

“There's also a scholarship component, so the students will get up to $8,800 in loan abatements as part of their financial aid package,” Bacon said.

Incoming student Jacquelin Jackter said that it is vital to have more women in the sciences.

“It's really important for women to be really involved in those things, because we have a lot to offer, we have just as much as men,” she said.

The U.S. Department of Commerce found that overall, women with STEM jobs earned one-third more than women with comparable educations in non-STEM jobs.

Students will start classes next week, but the College will continue to recruit students for the next three years. For more information, visit the Mount Holyoke Colege website at mtholyoke.edu .