Per Scholas commits to gender equal student body. Kicks off pledge at first annual Women in Tech event hosted by PIMCO

Per Scholas hosted its first of what will be a series of Women in Tech events June 24 in NYC hosted by corporate partner PIMCO. Sixty professionals and graduates from the IT industry gathered. Why? To get more women in tech. Specifically women of color who represent less than 10% of the IT workforce. Per Scholas has committed to a gender equal student body by 2016.

Here are some stats on what we are trying to change:

Today

• Women are earning less than 20% of computer and information science degrees
• Women comprise less than 30% of tech workforce, and women of color comprise less than 10% of the tech workforce
• Women leave the private sector tech workforce at twice the rate of their male peers

Good news – we can change this

• Carnegie Mellon went from less than 30% female CS majors in 2012 to 40% female CS majors in 2014
• In 2013, 60% of new tech positions were filled by women
• Companies like Google, LinkedIn, Yahoo and others agree that lack of diversity in tech is a problem and are committed to working toward solutions
• And of course, we are actively working to change this at Per Scholas

Here’s what we’re doing at Per Scholas

• Free training and job placement for entry-level and mid-level IT occupations, both co-ed and women’s only classes
• Graduated 146 women since 2012
• More than half are currently employed making average of $16.36 per hour
• 89% of women graduates were women of color
• Increased women student enrollment from 20% to 30%, and are planning to enroll 50% by 2016
• Semi-annual networking events
• Mentoring program to directly address the confidence gap
• A new advisory council to help us meet our goals (enrollment, awareness, employment, and hosting additional events) in partnership with the New York Women’s Foundation
• Endless inspiring success stories

How you can help

• Keep attending these events or host one of your own in NYC, D.C., Cincinnati, and Columbus – form a community
• Become a mentor
• Join our new advisory council
• Connect us to other community organizations so we may serve more women
• Contact Sara Barnaby to sign up and learn more

Our graduates and industry volunteers are an inspiration to making sure we meet our goals to empower many more women. We hope you will join us. Thanks to PIMCO for joining our effort as well as our anchor supporters New York Women’s Foundation, Fifth & Pacific Foundation, and SAP.