fem+ Engineering Mentorship Program

Young women in a DiscoverE FEM plus class setting

welcome to fem+

The Faculty of Engineering's fem+ program is a 7-month mentorship experience for women, non-binary and 2SLGBTQ+ high school students interested in exploring the possibilities within engineering. Whether you're certain about pursuing engineering, considering it among multiple programs or just want to know more before making a decision, fem+ is designed to help you explore what engineering is and if it might be the best fit for you!

Our goal is to help students explore the possibilities in engineering and university for them, not to perpetuate myths and stereotypes that may discourage students from pursuing their goals. Mentors help us reach that by inspiring and educating our participants about the potential fields they could go into one day, and guide their mentees through the process of deciding whether or not engineering might be a good fit for them.

Mentees receive one-on-one guidance about the university application process, the transition from high school to university and what engineering is like. We provide spaces for a diverse range of engineering students and professionals to share their experiences.

Contact us

Email: femprog@ualberta.ca

Mentors

Are you a current University of Alberta engineering student? We are seeking passionate mentors to volunteer their time and share their experiences with our high school participants. As a mentor, you'll have the opportunity to present your journey in engineering, answer questions and provide valuable insights into these fields.

By sharing your personal experiences, challenges and triumphs, you'll help demystify engineering and offer guidance and insight to your mentees. If this sounds like a good fit for you, apply to become a Fem+ mentor!

Being a fem+ mentor entails some of the listed responsibilities:

  • Contacting mentees once a month (at minimum)
  • Helping with events (in-person or virtual)
  • Writing short pieces for the Fem+ monthly newsletter (profile on yourself, writing about your discipline, etc.)

Mentees

Do you know or are you currently a high-school student who loves mathematics and science, but may not be considering engineering, are unsure about it or could benefit from an engineering student mentor?

The Faculty of Engineering's fem+ program is a 7-month long program for high school students who identify as women, non-binary or 2SLGBTQ+ and are interested in exploring all the possibilities within engineering. In this program, mentees will:

  • Be mentored one-on-one by a current student in the University of Alberta engineering program
  • See what university is like, what engineering is like and whether it is a good fit
  • Meet others interested in engineering through Discord, in-person or virtual events like Q&As and social events

faq

Do I need to have my mind made up about engineering to apply to fem+?

The goal of the program is to introduce you to engineering and to help you find out if engineering is a good fit for you. You might be interested in multiple programs or know nothing about engineering, and that’s okay! This program will give you opportunities to ask questions, hear about experiences in engineering and meet high school students also exploring their university options.

Is the program open to students outside of the Edmonton area?

Yes! If you are enrolled in high school anywhere in Canada, you are welcome and encouraged to apply! We have had high school students from Saskatchewan, British Columbia, and the Yukon participate in the program from cities, small towns and rural areas.

What are the information sessions about?

Information sessions adapt and change each year. We ask applicants to share their interests in their application to help guide our programming. Examples of previous topics include:

  • “What even is engineering?”
  • What courses should I take in high school?
  • Application to university help session
  • The real-world application of engineering (work experience, the co-op program, research, and more!)
  • Specializations in engineering
The time commitment does not work for me. How else can I learn if engineering is a good fit for me?
There are many opportunities throughout the year for high school students:
Is there a cost for the program?

There are no program fees. However, should you decide to attend events at the University of Alberta, travel and personal expenses are not included.

How often do mentors and mentees meet?

Mentors and mentees should connect at least once a month during the program. We encourage you to connect in whatever way works best for you! Communication may be via text message, email, phone, or in-person. It is up to the individual mentor and mentee to decide how often they would like to meet. For mentees, we recommend writing down questions you have for your mentor prior to meeting with them to help keep the conversation going and to ensure you get the most out of your program experience.
At the start of the year we have mentors and mentees fill out an agreement with each other on their expectations surrounding contact and the things they want to learn.

What are events like?

An important part of any university program is building community. The fem+ program seeks to help you begin building this community in the hopes that you’ll feel better prepared for your transition to university. Past events have included:

  • Shadowing engineering students to a university class
  • Online study nights
  • Tour and activities in The Elko Engineering Garage
  • Engineering design challenges
When do applications open?
Applications typically open at the end of August or in early September. Sign-up here to get a notification for when they open!


fem+ Newsletter

For those not currently in the program, fem+ offers a monthly newsletter called Engg-in, your go-to source for all things University of Alberta Engineering. This inclusive space is dedicated to high school students, with a special focus on those who identify as women, non-binary and 2SLGBTQ+.
If you'd prefer not to receive the monthly newsletters, you can sign up for a one-time email alert to notify you when applications for the fem+ program open for the new year.

Newsletter & Email Sign Up