NSF's ADVANCE program will support eight universities that will address these needs through multi-year grants of $3- to $4 million each. The institutions selected for the new awards have examined their current policies and practices and developed plans to pursue new organizational strategies to make access by women to the senior and leadership ranks of university faculties a priority.
"Academic institutions play a pivotal role in preparing the science and engineering work force, and their faculty and leaders serve as intellectual, personal and organizational role models that shape the expectations of future scientists and engineers," said Alice Hogan, NSF's ADVANCE program manager. "Ensuring that the climate, the policies and the practices at these institutions encourage and support the full participation of women in all aspects of academic life, including leadership and governance, is critical to attracting students to science and engineering careers."
The eight awards are part of a comprehensive effort undertaken by the foundation to diversify the scientific work force. The intent is that the activities undertaken by these institutions will become models that may be replicated in institutions throughout the nation.
"Intellectual diversity helps give our nation its competitive edge," NSF Director Rita Colwell said. "ADVANCE is an innovative program that promises to challenge assumptions and inspire change in the way we make science and engineering careers welcoming to all. These awards represent a substantial commitment by a diverse set of institutions to alter the way we approach participation in science and engineering careers. I thank these colleges and universities for taking on this challenge, and I look forward to working with them. "
Although women earn 40 percent of all doctorates in the United States, they continue to be underrepresented in almost all science and engineering fields. Women make up 22 percent of the science and engineering workforce in general and less than 20 percent of the science and engineering faculty in four-year colleges and universities.
Attachment: List of ADVANCE Institutional Transformation awards.
ADVANCE Institutional Transformation Awards
The Georgia Institute of Technology is creating a network of termed professorships, institutionalizing a formal training process on tenure and promotion, gathering information on equity and advancement. Holding leadership retreats, and strengthening family-friendly practices.
New Mexico State University has committed to increase the number of women in its tenure-track positions in science, mathematics and engineering and will establish a Committee on the Status of Women to monitor progress and to identify ways in which university programs can be better targeted to support the advancement of women.
The University of Washington is creating a Center for Institutional Change to transform the culture in science, engineering, and mathematics on campus. Activities will include leadership development, department cultural change, policy transformation, mentoring women faculty, and creating a transitional support program for faculty.
The University of Puerto Rico, Humacao, will improve training for new faculty and administrators to improve gender equity.
The University of Colorado, Boulder, will increase the number of women serving in academic leadership positions in science, mathematics, engineering and technology programs through its Leadership Education for Advancement and Promotion Program.
The University of Michigan is launching a campus climate initiative, a gender equity resource fund, and a department transformation initiative to provide interventions to improve opportunities for tenure-track women faculty in basic science and engineering fields.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison is establishing a National Women in Science and Engineering Leadership Institute to gather data, monitor results, and disseminate information on the best practices for advancing women. As part of its chancellor's endowment goals, the university is including the creation of ten professorships for the advancement of women in science and engineering.
The University of California-Irvine will establish equity advisors in each science school to assist in recruitment, mentoring, retention and advancement of faculty; appoint two ADVANCE chairs, to be awarded to tenured faculty in the sciences with strong academic credentials and a demonstrated commitment to gender equity, conduct gender awareness workshops for faculty and administrators; and monitor gender equity issues on an ongoing basis.