Toward a Statewide Network of Education Programs for Working Women. Conference Proceedings (Syracuse, New York, March 25-26, 1976).

The educational needs of working women and the educational programs which are open to them are discussed in this report. The conference focused on working women as a new student group. Conference participants from higher education, labor unions, and industry exchanged ideas. Topics discussed include outreach on the part of educational institutions to working women, characteristics of women students, and problems peculiar to working women when they become students. A student panel presented four case studies of women who returned to school to highlight problems and rewards which other women might encounter. The keynote speech addressed the university's interest in the working woman as a student. It was followed by a discussion of five model programs which have been successful in educating blue-collar workers in New York and Detroit. Suggestions for designing a network to attract women students and create a clearinghouse on educational programs for women workers were presented. Five guidelines for creating educationally innovative programs were suggested at the conclusion of the conference: (1) prepare for a long struggle; (2) plan the campaign; (3) make it a team operation; (4) be flexible; and (5) seek insights. A directory of conference participants is included. (Author/DB)