ADVANCE Institutional Transformation Award

William Marsh Rice University, Houston TX

Investigators

Abstract

The goal of this project is to transform the Schools of Science and Engineering at Rice University by increasing the number of women faculty; strengthening the gender-neutrality of the climate in a way that identifies and values the unique skills of each individual and rewards contributions; and enhancing opportunities for women to assume and succeed in leadership positions. Approximately one-third of the faculty in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology areas at Rice will reach normal retirement age within the next 8 years. This should provide an exceptional opportunity to seek to significantly increase the numbers of women faculty, including women of color. The ADVANCE program will capitalize on the strong commitment to gender equity at Rice University and robust linkages to the leadership of the institution to address the key issues of recruitment, retention, and climate that affect women in academia. To achieve this transformation, three specific goals are being pursued: 1. Increase the number of women at Rice Aspiration: Hiring and retention of women faculty at levels that better reflect available pools of Ph.D.s within disciplines. Recruitment Activities: Workshop for Career Success, database of qualified applicants, introducing best recruitment practices, engaging non-traditional entry tracks for women to enter the academy. Retention Activities: Workshop for Faculty Success, database of service and teaching, introducing best practices for chairs and staff. 2. Create a positive and welcoming work environment for women at Rice Aspiration: Women and men report similar levels of satisfaction in climate surveys. Individual Activities: Mentoring, coaching, and reverse mentoring. Institutional Activities: Engagement of department chairs in institutional transformation, updating institutional policies to increase opportunities for success of women faculty, data collection and analysis, and discourse on leadership. 3. Evaluate what works to advance women and share this information Aspiration: Publications in professional journals and materials made readily available. Evaluation: Critical assessment by social scientists to produce publishable data as well as general guidelines for effective action. Dissemination: Use of website and Connexions as mechanisms to provide easy access to materials for adaptation by other institutions and holding a national Workshop on Best Practices. The success of this program provides the opportunity to distinguish Rice for its excellent climate and for its efforts in highlighting and encouraging achievement of women faculty with model activities that can be adapted and applied to other institutions. The series of initiatives focused on dissemination of developed materials enables project knowledge to be broadly available to other institutions undertaking transformational initiatives.