Offering career networking for students and reviewing recent developments at their alma mater will be the focus of the annual spring conference of the President's Council of Cornell Women when it meets on campus March 7 to 9.

"Opportunities and Choices: Women and the Changing Work Environment" is the title of the conference, the first session of which will feature a panel of university deans and directors describing recent changes at Cornell as the university adjusts to an environment of shrinking budgets. To be held in the Statler Hotel Amphitheater on Friday, March 7 at 4 p.m., "A New Paradigm -- The University as a Business" will have as panelists Francille Firebaugh, dean of the College of Human Ecology; Mary Opperman, associate vice president of human resources; Tom Dyckman, acting dean of the Johnson Graduate School of Management; and Fred Rogers, senior vice president and chief financial officer.

Following a reception for women faculty in the Statler's Terrace Lounge, the group will hear Sheila Danko, professor of design and environmental analysis in the College of Human Ecology, present an address on "Leadership and Creative Problem Solving through Design" at a membership dinner in the Memorial Room of Willard Straight Hall at 7 p.m.

"Women and the Changing Work Environments" will open Saturday, March 8, at 10 a.m. in the Statler Amphitheater. Toby K. Levine '64 will moderate a panel including Francine D. Blau, the Frances Perkins Professor of Industrial and Labor Relations; Elaine Wethington, associate professor in the College of Human Ecology; Susan Engel '68, president of Department 56, Inc.; Barbara Press Turner '65, executive vice president of EduSystems, and Nancy D. Mills '64, co-owner of Mills Associates.

A mentoring luncheon to give students the opportunity to network with PCCW members and discuss their career interests will take place from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. in the Statler Ballroom. Pre-registration is required.

Several interactive workshops will be presented during the afternoon.

President Hunter Rawlings will present an update on current challenges facing Cornell at a membership dinner in the Statler Ballroom at 7 p.m.

The meeting will conclude with a breakfast at 8:15 a.m. on Sunday, March 9, with guest speaker Anita Harris '70, author of Broken Patterns and principal consultant for Harris Media Associates, discussing "Women and Work: As We Enter the 21st Century."

PCCW was established in 1990 as an advisory council to the university's president, with the mission of advancing the involvement and leadership of women students, faculty, staff and alumnae. There are approximately 250 members, invited by the president to serve three-year renewable terms. All current women trustees serve as ex-officio members.

The group has undertaken numerous projects to expand the role of women at the university and provide greater involvement for alumnae. Among its activities are the funding of 61 research studies and projects by women faculty and students, publishing of the first student-written Cornell Women's Handbook, sponsoring the first Women in Leadership at Cornell conference in December 1994 and advising Cornell's president on issues of importance to women.