That's right—women.

And the Institute for Women's Studies and Services at Metro aims to do something about improving these statistics. The institute, established in 1985, offers two sets of services—academic and community—in keeping with its stated belief that education is the key to increased independence and achievement for women.

Jodi Wetzel, professor of history and women's studies and institute director since 1986, says that the institute originated in the midst of financial problems at Metro. "They were going to close the relatively small Women's Studies Program and the Women's Center, but a group of active women put together this proposal to combine the two and create this institute," she explains.

Today, the institute offers a women's studies minor, women's studies major (available as an individualized degree), and many women's studies courses covering the intellectual traditions of feminist scholarship and action. The women's services program provides individualized assistance to women transitioning from work and/or home to school and coordinates a variety of services including scholarship assistance, advocacy services, college entry assistance, resource and referral, and cultural and educational programs.

And this month the institute is presenting—as it has done every March for the past 19 years—Women's History Month, a series of programs that celebrate women's lives, experiences and histories. "The Women's History Month at Auraria is the largest and most diverse in the West," says Wetzel. "Seldom do you see a calendar with as many events as ours."

One of the reasons that the celebration is so large and diverse is that so many offices, academic departments and organizations join together to help sponsor the events, Wetzel says. "In addition, Metro has reached out to UCD, CCD and AHEC to participate as sponsors and we invite everyone at Auraria."

A unique aspect to the celebration, according to Wetzel, is the bridge speaker who links Black History Month and Women's History Month. This year, she's Patricia Hill-Collins, a social theorist and professor at the University of Cincinnati. Hill-Collins will present "Another Kind of Public Education" at 1 p.m. tomorrow at the Tivoli Turnhalle. A reception and book-signing follows.

Other events on this year's calendar range from workshops (self-defense and health) to a Women's Spirituality Festival to lectures and discussions (leadership strategist Phoebe Eng and traditional Mexican healer Elena Avila, among many others).

While Women's History Month ends in March, major events of interest to women will continue through April, including An Evening with Dr. Maya Angelou on April 28. To see the full calendar, go to http://www.mscd.edu/~women/wmshist2005.htm