Graduate Equity

Penn State College of Engineering is committed to providing access to programs and opportunities to all qualified students without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

The mission of Graduate Equity is to grow and diversify College of Engineering graduate programs. We work toward this goal through high impact recruiting, developing targeted first-year programs for incoming graduate students, fostering community, and professional development opportunities. We are here to support your graduate school journey, and we encourage you to explore the many opportunities we offer!

Engineering Graduate Student Community

The College of Engineering hosts several graduate student groups, events, and resources with the goal of promoting scholarship and equity. These include:

• Multicultural Engineering Graduate Association
  • The Multicultural Engineering Graduate Association (MEGA) is a student organization that fosters equity, inclusion, and belonging for graduate students in engineering and science disciplines across the Penn State University Park campus. Through social events, workshops, and its alumni network, MEGA serves graduate students' needs for collegial community of their peers and professional development. As an organization, we strive to create a welcoming community and support for our members that will bolster their overall Penn State experience. All are welcome to join!
• Graduate Women in Engineering (GradWIE) aims to create an inclusive community to support the success of engineering graduate students. GradWIE welcomes people of all gender identities to support the personal and professional wellbeing of graduate students through peer support, the creation of safe spaces, social events, diverse resources, and professional development. Connect with us here!
• Student Well-Being Groups
  • Graduate students meet up to discuss and pursue hobbies, such as photography. Contact Cindy Reed for more information.

Graduate Student Professional Development

Professional development builds skills for graduate students beyond their academic training. These programs are intended to address issues that can serve as barriers to students’ academic and professional success.

• Penn State Graduate Professional Development
• The National GEM Consortium
• Equity Research Initiative: Graduate students can mentor an undergraduate student researcher in the Equity undergraduate research program. This initiative uses a tiered mentoring model where the undergraduate student researchers will be mentored by graduate students, who are also provided mentoring and training. Eligible graduate students must have passed their competency exam. Students will be grouped in an interdisciplinary cohort to create an inclusive community of scholars.

Recent professional development programs include:

• Rethinking presentations in science and engineering
• Curating your professional identity
• Creating your personal website
• Salary negotiation

Graduate Equity Student Orientation Event

Rising Doctoral Institute 
The Rising Doctoral Institute (RDI) is a three-day workshop for incoming master’s and doctoral students and intend to begin graduate school in the fall semester. Our goal is to help prepare students to successfully navigate their degree programs and provide a network of support at Penn State.

Graduate Student Recruiting Events

Graduate Equity will be at several conference events throughout the year. If you travel to a conference, be sure to come and find us to learn more about the community at Penn State!  If you are a current graduate student, ask how you can join us at different conference opportunities.

• Graduate Program Resources for Admitted Students
  
• STEM Open House
• College of Engineering Graduate Programs and Contact Information

Other Graduate Resources at Penn State

• Graduate Student Resource Library
• Office of Graduate and Education Equity Programs
• The Graduate & Professional Student Association
• Counseling & Psychological Services
• Graduate Student Ombudsperson Program
• Graduate Student Life at Penn State
• Student Clubs and Organizations at University Park