The Syracuse Women’s Empowerment and Engagement Partnership (SWEEP) is a cross-campus collaboration that will be hosting several on campus events in celebration of Women’s History month in March. All students, staff and faculty members across campus are encouraged to join SWEEP to celebrate all women and what they do in the campus community.

“It’s been amazing to see the growth of this partnership that began with several student leaders who recognized an importance to celebrate International Women’s Month on our campus,” says Sheila Clifford-Bova, Office Manager at the School of Information Studies (iSchool), and SWEEP’s staff advisor and facilitator. “From there, this grassroots movement has grown to include almost every school on campus, from the student, staff and faculty level and beyond! Women are coming together to support, educate and empower each other. It’s a true collaboration that speaks directly to our Chancellor’s vision of One University.”

SWEEP started in 2015 as a grassroots movement between student organizations at the iSchool and the Whitman School of Management. The student leaders noticed that there weren’t any campuswide activities celebrating International Women’s Month, and decided to collaborate together to create and produce some. These events were well attended, and students from other schools on campus asked if they could be part of the collaboration for the next year, and it has now spread to become a campus partnership of students, staff and faculty, along with other organizations from CNY.​

In addition to campuswide partners, community partners for SWEEP include: Clear Path for Veterans, WISE Women’s Business Center and the Women’s Fund of Central New York.

SWEEP’s mission is to promote gender and diversity initiatives on the Syracuse University campus and throughout central New York via collaboration with student groups, staff and faculty on campus, and throughout the community. It shares the Chancellor’s vision of One University, and endeavors to work together to celebrate and support the women of the Syracuse University campus, SU alumni and the Syracuse community.

March events organized by SWEEP include:

  • Tell Your Story, Make a Difference – March 8: Joining keynote speaker Jill Tietjan, alumni speakers from schools across campus will participate in a flash-talk session where participants will tell their personal story, highlighting their dreams, mentors and setbacks and how they are making a difference today. This event takes place on Tuesday, March 8, from 3-5 p.m. in the Goldstein Auditorium in Schine Student Center. Tickets available online.

  • Dining Etiquette Workshop and What Not to Wear Fashion Show – March 10: This event takes place on Thursday, March 10, from 5-7 p.m. in Goldstein Auditorium. Tickets are available at the Schine Box Office and cost $5 for students.

For more information about SWEEP’s March events, or to participate, contact Sheila Clifford-Bova at (315) 443-4795 or sacliffo@syr.edu.