Development, Leadership, Visibility Initiative

Leadership Development and/or Tenure Line Conversion of Non-Tenure Line Women

Examination of data on staff positions indicates that we could increase the number of women faculty in many departments simply by converting academic staff positions to faculty positions for women who wish to expand their roles. A number of women on our campus who hold academic staff titles pursue independent research and have teaching reputations and credentials equivalent to those in faculty positions. Many of these women entered science at a time when nepotism rules, prejudices, or their own life choices prevented them from entering tenure-line faculty positions. In the present era, a number of these women might have become faculty members through dual career recruitments. In preparation for this proposal, we spoke to Acting Provost Gary Sandefur, Vice Chancellor John Torphy, and Associate Vice Chancellor Linda Greene who agreed to an exploratory study of the development of a program that would offer faculty appointments to selected non-tenure line women in science and engineering. WISELI will establish a working group, including representatives from the Academic Staff Council and administration, to determine the number of possible track switches and identify administrative, financial, and attitudinal barriers to accomplishing conversions. If such a program would have a positive impact, WISELI will work with campus administration to develop a systematic process for such track conversion.