RIT Female Engineering Students to Build Their Own Computers

Twenty-one students — all first-year Rochester Institute of Technology female engineering majors — will get an early taste of college life and engineering studies next week.

The students will attend the second annual "I Built My Computer @ RIT" workshop, July 30-Aug. 2, during which they’ll build computers that will be theirs to keep. The workshop familiarizes students with some of RIT’s high-tech labs before their first year of studies begins.

"Through hands-on projects, students will get an early introduction to the engineering labs they’ll use in fall quarter classes," says Margaret Anderson, assistant dean for student services in RIT’s Kate Gleason College of Engineering. "They’ll have ample opportunities to make friends with other engineering females, get acquainted with the faculty and find their way around campus. All of this helps to break down the anxiety associated with starting college."

In building their own computers, students will learn how to use hand tools, become familiar with technical terminology, use engineering laboratory equipment and get an introduction to the software used in engineering applications. They’ll also get a taste of college life outside the classroom by living in RIT residence halls during their campus stay.

The workshop is supported by a grant from Xerox Corp. and a gift from Microsoft Corp. of Microsoft XP operating systems and Microsoft Office XP software for each of the 21 computers.