Project to increase women faculty scientists & engineers yields results

The University made significant progress in hiring and retaining women faculty scientists and engineers during the first year of a federally funded project designed to enhance the academic environment for that group.

A five-year, $3.7 million award from the National Science Foundation (NSF) ADVANCE Institutional Transformation Program was received in 2001 to undertake the work, which is aimed at reversing a pattern in which women scientists and engineers are isolated or marginalized because there are so few of them in their departments.

In a speech to be delivered this evening (Sept. 15) to the Network of Women Scientists and Engineers (created by the ADVANCE project), Provost Paul N. Courant reports, on behalf of himself and President Mary Sue Coleman, results of the first year of the program. In addition, Courant will announce the creation of a Committee on Gender in Science and Engineering that will issue recommendations this year about institutional policies that may hinder the success of women scientists and engineers. Coleman and Courant co-chair the committee.

Heading subcommittees about specific policy areas are deans Stephen Director, College of Engineering, Faculty Recruitment and Faculty Leadership; Allen Lichter, Medical School, Family-Friendly Policies and Appointment Tracks; and Terrence McDonald, LSA, Promotion and Tenure. They will undertake campus-wide discussion of policies, such as modified duties and dual-career support, the length of tenure clock, and criteria for promotion evaluation.

Already, efforts by ADVANCE and U-M deans and faculty contributed to the successful recruitment of at least 43 new women science and engineering faculty on the instructional or tenure track: six in LSA, seven in Engineering, three in basic science departments in Medicine, two in the School of Public Health, one in the School of Dentistry, and 24 in clinical departments in Medicine. Thirty are assistant professors, 10 are associate professors and three are full professors.

"We have made progress, but we have a long way to go," Courant says. "I expect to see women scientists and engineers taking on new responsibilities in departments, at the college and University level over the next few years."

Accomplishments of ADVANCE within the last year include:

• STRIDE (the Committee for Science and Technology Recruiting to Increase Diversity and Excellence) wrote a recruitment handbook, posted materials on the ADVANCE Web site, encouraged the colleges to create new recruitment information addressing family policies at U-M and made more than 20 presentations about gender equitable recruitment strategies. STRIDE is composed of five men and three women who are senior faculty in science and engineering.

• The Network of Women Scientists and Engineers was created to promote community among women scientists and engineers and to create an opportunity for them to define their own priorities. At the recommendation of the network, ADVANCE staff will facilitate the creation of mentoring relationships between women scientists and engineers in the coming year.

• Climate studies to identify the issues needing attention in particular departments or programs were implemented last year, funded by ADVANCE and the academic department.

• Opportunities for leadership training for women faculty were identified and created, participation in particular programs was supported, and two workshops were held. ADVANCE will sponsor a series of leadership lectures this year.

The Institute for Research on Women and Gender was one of nine institutions to receive ADVANCE funding from the NSF in the first round. The ADVANCE Steering Committee includes deans Director, Lichter and McDonald; Pamela Raymond, senior counselor to the provost and professor of cell and developmental biology; and Abigail Stewart, principal investigator and professor of psychology and women's studies.

For additional information, contact Stewart at abbystew@umich.edu, visit http://www.umich.edu/~advproj/index.html or http://www.nsf.gov.

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