Introduction and Background
The
University of Wisconsin System Initiative on the Status of Women was a
one-year project designed to evaluate all aspects of university life as
they relate to the status of women students, staff, faculty, and
administrators. President
Katharine Lyall appointed two ad hoc committees to carry out the
Initiative's work. The
Committee on the Status of Women conducted a study of employment, including hiring and retention; academic and
curricular initiatives; classroom and campus
climate; and services available to members of the university community.
(Such a study was last undertaken by the 1980 System Task Force
on the Status of Women.) The
Steering Committee on the Leadership Institute held a pilot summer
institute in the summer of 1999.
In
its final report, the Committee on the Status of Women identified four
key areas of concern: educational
opportunities for women students; hiring, retention and promotion of women
employees; learning and work environment; and balancing work and
personal life. They recommended that each individual institution
establish and support a committee on the status of women and that each
institution develop a plan to address each area by January 2001.
At
UW-Stout, an Equality for Women Steering Committee was formed in August
2000. This steering committee includes representation from faculty,
academic staff, classified staff and students.
Four subcommittees were established to address each of the four
key progress areas. Each
steering committee and subcommittee member was provided with a notebook
of data, including UW System data and UW-Stout data on female students
and employees. The Steering
Committee and subcommittees met several times from September through
December. The following
report summarizes the recommendations from the subcommittees and
steering committee members in the four key progress areas.
Key Area:
Educational Opportunities for Women
Students
Charge:
Establish activities and programs that attract and retain more
women students to math, science, engineering, and technology fields;
develop new initiatives to help women take advantage of changes in
technology and increasing globalization; ensure equity in athletic
programs; and access to higher education for women who are disadvantaged
by economic or family circumstances.
Recommendations:
1).
Conduct a one-day orientation session for 7th, 8th and 9th grade
girls and selected middle school teachers, administrators and guidance
counselors. The orientation session would focus on UW-Stout academic
programs in several areas of math, science and technology in which women
are currently under-represented. These programs include Applied Math,
Applied Science, Construction, Industrial Technology, Manufacturing
Engineering, Packaging, Technology Education and Telecommunication
Systems.
Responsible:
Admissions counselors, Program directors, Coordinator for
Women’s Issues
Timeline:
Annual, beginning in February 2002
Funding:
$5,000 (includes mailings, supplies, meals)
Priority:
High
2).
Develop and administer a questionnaire to identify the reasons
that women and minority students leave technical majors and/or leave
UW-Stout before completion of their degrees.
The questionnaire will assist in determining why students change
majors and/or leave UW-Stout to determine if specific issues are
influencing their decisions.
Responsible:
Associate Dean of Students, Retention Implementation Committee
Timeline:
Ongoing, beginning in Fall 2001
Funding:
Minimal. Current "change of major" form could be
revised to include questions on the reason/s for requesting the change.
Exit questionnaire will be developed by Retention Implementation
Committee.
Priority:
Medium
3).
Study the establishment of a formal mentoring program open to all
women students, beginning with those women students in
traditionally-male academic programs. Mentors would include alumni, faculty, staff and other
students. Begin by
examining programs at other campuses and determining the benefits of
such a program and establishing baseline data for measuring progress.
Responsible:
Educational Opportunities for Women Students Subcommittee
Timeline:
Feasibility study conducted 2001-02 academic year
Funding:
$15,000 (estimated, includes a graduate assistant, clerical
support, service and supplies)
Priority:
Medium
4).
Examine issues related to equity in women’s athletic programs
(Title IX), equity in women's use of technology and the status of
economically disadvantaged women students at UW-Stout as these issues
were included in the UW System report.
Responsible:
Educational Opportunities for Women Students Subcommittee,
Affirmative Action Office, Internal Auditor
Timeline:
Report by Fall 2001 (report prepared by subcommittee)
Funding:
Minimal
Priority:
Medium
*
* * * *
Key Area:
Hiring, Promotion & Retention of Women
Employees
Charge:
Expand
the recruiting and mentoring of women faculty; improve professional
development activities and career ladders for academic staff and classified
staff women; and develop leadership opportunities for women to move
into administration.
Recommendations:
5.)
Appoint a Coordinator for Women’s issues. This person would be
housed in the Affirmative Action Office and serve as an advocate for
women's issues on campus and as a coordinator/liaison to the various
offices and programs that serve women across the campus. This individual
would require support from faculty, staff and administrators. Duties of
this individual may include:
-
assist
department chairs/unit supervisors in efforts to recruit and hire
women faculty/staff
-
monitor recruitment/hiring/retention of women
faculty/staff
-
meet with female candidates for faculty/staff positions
-
conduct
exit interviews with female employees who are leaving the university
-
monitor
campus climate in regard to women students and employees
-
work
with campus and community to provide services to women
-
develop and offer training and educational programs to
faculty/staff and students on issues
involving sexual harassment, discrimination and sexual violence
create
and maintain a gender resources web site
-
chair the Equality for Women Steering Committee and work
with subcommittees to implement
the recommendations included in this report
-
participate in the planning of a proposed campus resource
center for special populations
-
provide information on existing and future resources for
women, including the Women's Studies
Committee, Women's Mentoring Program, etc.
-
assist in reviewing, developing and updating policies
regarding women's issues
Responsible:
Assistant to Chancellor for Affirmative Action/Search Committee
Timeline:
Beginning in 2001-02 academic year, for a two-year trial period
Funding:
$25,000 to $30,000 + .50 FTE (half-time position), $5,000
(services and supplies)
Priority:
High
6).
Provide funding for female faculty, academic or classified staff
to attend leadership development seminars each year, including programs
offered by Harvard, ACE and the Center for Creative Leadership.
Responsible:
Chancellor, Research Services – Stout Solutions
Timeline:
Annual, beginning in 2000-01 academic year
Funding:
$10,000 (each year), University Special Projects Fund
Priority:
Medium
7).
Expand women's mentoring program to include separate programming
for faculty, academic staff and classified staff.
Responsible:
Vice Chancellor, Associate Vice Chancellor, Human Resources
Office
Timeline:
Ongoing, beginning in 2001-02 academic year
Funding:
Minimal, current program has budget of $1,500 per year from
Provost's Office
Priority:
Medium
8).
Form a UW-Stout/Chippewa Valley Chapter of Wisconsin Women in
Higher Education Leadership (WWHEL). The chapter will sponsor leadership
development activities for women on campus and in the surrounding
community. Host WHHEL conference in 2001.
Responsible:
Assistant to the Chancellor for Affirmative Action, Associate Dean of
Students
Timeline:
Ongoing, beginning in 2000-01 academic year
Funding:
Membership dues
Priority:
Medium
Key
Area:
Learning & Work Environment
Charge:
Develop workshops and training sessions for members of the
university community, beginning with administrators, managers, and
supervisors; review and improve the system of reporting and
responding to complaints of discrimination, harassment, and sexual
violence; and establish a wider system of supports for women students
and employees.
Recommendations:
9).
A. Strengthen the role of
Women’s Studies on campus. Information should be gathered to determine
the degree to which women and gender issues are included in general
education courses. Explore how Women’s Studies courses are integrated
into the curriculum at other UW System campuses.
Utilize the campus curriculum process to include Women's Studies
courses in the existing general education/ethnic studies requirements.
Responsible:
Faculty Senate, Associate Vice Chancellor, Women's Studies
Coordinator
Timeline:
Ongoing, beginning in 2001-02 academic year
Funding:
Unknown, may increase enrollments in existing women's studies
courses
Priority:
High
9).
B. Develop a plan to expand
the Women’s Studies program and related activities on campus. Plan
should include specific goals, objectives, activities, timeline and
budget. Comparative data from other campuses should be included.
Responsible:
Women's Studies Coordinator, Women’s Studies Committee
Timeline:
Plan developed in spring semester 2001
Funding:
Unknown at this time (estimated $20,000 per year)
Priority:
High
10).
Create a campus climate that is supportive of women.
Historically, men have held the majority of positions of power on
campus; thus, the structure of power relationships needs continual
examination. The climate of the campus must enable women to excel in
their respective positions and to obtain leadership positions. To begin
discussion and stimulate dialogue around these issues, a series of
forums will be held with faculty, staff and students.
The recommendations included in this report will also be shared
at these forums.
Responsible:
Equality for Women Steering Committee
Timeline:
Forums held during the spring semester of 2001
Funding:
None
Priority:
High
11).
Strengthen reporting of and response to concerns of sexual
harassment, gender discrimination and sexual violence. Currently, there
are multiple offices that deal with these concerns. It is recommended
that:
-
existing reporting procedures and interventions be reviewed
-
information on reporting procedures and interventions be
disseminated widely
-
training on procedures and interventions be provided to
supervisory personnel
-
training on procedures and interventions be provided to all
students
Responsible:
Coordinator for Women's Issues, Assistant to the Chancellor for
Affirmative Action, Director of Security and Police Services, Dean of
Students, Associate Vice Chancellor, Human Resource Director
Timeline:
Ongoing, begin discussion in Spring 2001
Funding:
Minimal
Priority:
Medium
12).
Consider hosting an annual event or developing a publication that
recognizes the activities and accomplishments of female faculty, staff
and students and recognizes individuals that have advanced the status of
women on campus or in the community.
May be an expansion of the current annual Women and Leadership
Celebration/Women’s History Month programs held each spring.
Responsible:
Equality for Women Steering Committee
Timeline:
Summer 2001 (planning)
Funding:
$3000 (current activities funded by several units on campus)
Priority:
Medium
*
* * * *
Key Area:
Balancing Work and Personal Life
Charge:
Expand and improve childcare services and access to them; develop
a more flexible workplace
through flex-time, job-sharing, and equitable implementation of family
leave policies;
and
provide domestic partner benefits such as life insurance, health
insurance, retirement survivor
benefits, and sick leave.
Recommendations:
Responsible:
Chair, HDFLCES Dept; Director, Office of Budget, Planning and Analysis
Timeline:
2001-2002 academic year
Funding:
Minimal
Priority:
High
14).
The campus should establish an ad-hoc committee on Family
Friendly Policies. This committee
could review current policies and assist in the development of new
policies affecting faculty,
staff and students.
Responsible:
Chancellor, Human Resource Office, Senates
Timeline:
2001-2002 academic year
Funding:
Minimal
Priority:
Medium
15).
The campus should offer a series of workshops that focuses on
problems related to work and family balance, including mid-career
changes, job sharing, commuter marriages, planning for retirement, etc.
Workshops could be offered by faculty and staff with expertise in these
areas as well as outside speakers.
Responsible:
Subcommittee on Work and Personal Life, Professional Development
Committee, Optimal Health Committee, Human Resource Office
Timeline:
2002-2003 academic year
Funding:
$3,000 (for speaker fees)
Implementation of Recommendations
The
Coordinator for Women’s Issues will meet with the Equality for
Women’s Steering Committee (and subcommittees) each month (or as
needed) to monitor progress and update the recommendations included in
this report.
Implementation Timeline:
January 2001 to May 2003
Spring Semester 2001
-
Implementation
of Recommendation #4 – Examination of other issues that were included
in the UW System report (report due fall of 2001)
-
Implementation
of Recommendation #5 – Hire a Coordinator for Women’s Issues (to
begin July 1)
-
Planning
for Recommendation #8 – Host WWHEL Conference (conference held in
November)
-
Planning
and Implementation for Recommendation #11 – Streamline complaint
process
-
Planning
for Recommendation #9B – Expand Women’s Studies Program and related
activities
-
Implementation
of Recommendation #10 – Create a campus climate that supports women
(host campus forums)
Summer 2001
-
Implementation of Recommendation #6 – Send women
to leadership seminars
-
Planning for Recommendation #7 – Expand
Women’s Mentoring Program
-
Planning
for Recommendation #12 – Hold annual celebration/recognition event
Fall 2001
-
Planning
for Recommendation #1 -
Orientation Session for middle school girls interested in
non-traditional careers
-
Implementation
of Recommendation #2 – Survey/conduct exit interviews with students
who change majors/leave the university (ongoing)
-
Planning
for Recommendation #3 – Establishing mentoring program for female
students
-
Implementation
of Recommendation #7 – Expansion of Women’s Mentoring Program
(ongoing)
-
Implementation
of Recommendation #8 – Create WWHEL Chapter/Host WWHEL Conference
-
Implementation
of Recommendation #14 – Create Committee on “Family-Friendly”
Policies
Spring 2002
-
Implementation
of Recommendation #9A – Explore Women’s Studies Courses in
relationship to general education and diversity requirements
-
Implementation
of Recommendation #1 – Orientation Session for middle school girls
interested in non-traditional careers
-
Implementation
of Recommendation #13 – Conduct childcare needs survey
-
Implementation
of Recommendation #12 – Hold annual celebration/recognition event
Summer 2002
Fall 2002
Spring 2003
-
Implementation
of Recommendation #1 – Orientation Session for middle school girls
interested in non-traditional careers
-
Implementation
of Recommendation #12 – Hold annual celebration/recognition event
-
Implementation
of Recommendation #15 – Speaker series on work/family issues
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