HR: 1340h
AN: ED23B-0094    [Abstracts]
TI: Strategies for Success of Women Faculty in Science: The ADVANCE Program at the University of Rhode Island
AU: * Wishner, K
EM: kwishner@gso.uri.edu
AF: University of Rhode Island, Kingston Campus, Kingston, RI 02881 United States
AU: Silver, B
EM: bsi7289u@postoffice.uri.edu
AF: University of Rhode Island, Kingston Campus, Kingston, RI 02881 United States
AU: Boudreaux-Bartels, F
EM: boud@ele.uri.edu
AF: University of Rhode Island, Kingston Campus, Kingston, RI 02881 United States
AU: Harlow, L
EM: lharlow@uri.edu
AF: University of Rhode Island, Kingston Campus, Kingston, RI 02881 United States
AU: Knickle, H
EM: knickle@egr.uri.edu
AF: University of Rhode Island, Kingston Campus, Kingston, RI 02881 United States
AU: Mederer, H
EM: hmederer@uri.edu
AF: University of Rhode Island, Kingston Campus, Kingston, RI 02881 United States
AU: Peckham, J
EM: joan@cs.uri.edu
AF: University of Rhode Island, Kingston Campus, Kingston, RI 02881 United States
AU: Roheim, C
EM: crw@uri.edu
AF: University of Rhode Island, Kingston Campus, Kingston, RI 02881 United States
AU: Trubatch, J
EM: janett@uri.edu
AF: University of Rhode Island, Kingston Campus, Kingston, RI 02881 United States
AU: Webster, K
EM: kweb7049@postoffice.uri.edu
AF: University of Rhode Island, Kingston Campus, Kingston, RI 02881 United States
AB: The NSF-funded ADVANCE program seeks to increase the recruitment and retention of women faculty in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines as part of a national goal of creating a broad-based scientific workforce able to effectively address societal demands. The University of Rhode Island, a recipient of an Institutional Transformation ADVANCE grant in 2003, has begun a campus-wide initiative. The 5 goals are (1) to increase the numbers of women STEM faculty, (2) to provide faculty development opportunities, (3) to improve networks of professional and social support, (4) to assess the academic work environment for all faculty, and (5) to implement long-term changes throughout the university that promote a supportive work environment for women STEM faculty. Accomplishments during the first year include (1) hiring several ADVANCE Assistant Professors, (2) developing workshops on critical skills for junior faculty (grant writing, negotiations, mentoring), (3) initiating a series of lunch meetings where pertinent topical and work-family issues are discussed informally, (4) awarding small Incentive grants for research and other projects that enhance the careers of women STEM faculty, (5) developing and modifying university policies on family leave and dual career couple recruitment, (6) developing and implementing quantitative and qualitative assessment tools for baseline and ongoing campus-wide work climate surveys within the context of a theoretical model for change, and (7) offering directed self-study workshops for entire departments using a trained facilitator. The ADVANCE Assistant Professor position, unique to URI's program, allows a new hire to spend the first 2-3 years developing a research program without teaching obligations. ADVANCE pays their salary during this time, at which point they transition to a regular faculty position. During this first of five years of NSF funding, the ADVANCE program has been met with campus wide enthusiasm and interest from both faculty and administration. Further, the program has the potential for invigorating not only STEM departments, but also the wider university, in offering innovative and engaging workshops and policies, as well as providing an opportunity for ongoing self-study through bi-annual surveys across the university.
DE: 6600 PUBLIC ISSUES
DE: 6605 Education
DE: 6630 Workforce
SC: Education and Human Resourcese [ED]
MN: 2004 AGU Fall Meeting