Supporting Women Scientists via the NSF ADVANCE Program Georgia A. Arbuckle-Keil, Department of Chemistry Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Goals of NSF ADVANCE (NSF 0941 Publication) • Develop systemic approaches to increase the representation & advancement of women in academic science, technology, engineering & mathematics (STEM) careers, thereby contributing to a more diverse science & engineering workforce • 3 Types of Projects: Institutional Transformation (IT); IT- Catalyst; Partnerships for Adaptation, Implementation & Dissemination (PAID) • IT: comprehensive programs for institution-wide change; must include research component to study effectiveness of proposed innovations • PAID: adaptation & implementation of materials, tools, research, & practices; dissemination & diffusion of materials, Solicitation: (09-504)
ONE UNIVERSITY: 3 DISTINCT LOCATIONS • Most well-known campus: New Brunswick or Piscataway (PhD Chemistry) • Newark campus (also offers PhD Chemistry) • Camden campus: Predominantly Undergraduate Institution (PUI) (MS Chemistry)
ONE UNIVERSITY: THREE DISTINCT LOCATIONS Demographics: • Douglas College – Women’s College • Female chemistry faculty became part of Rutgers University Department of Chemistry • One of the larger (percent women faculty) (~35% 2008)
DEMOGRAPHICS • Campus Campus – originally College of South Jersey • Predominantly Undergraduate Institution (PUI) Currently: 25% female (n = 4) Soon to be 20% (n = 5) Over a decade ago: 50% female (n = 6)
Comparison Between Campuses Compiled for the RU-FAIR Annual Report 2010 NSF HRD-0810978 (D. Valentine)
Number of Faculty in SEM Disciplines Difference between number of faculty increase with rank RU-FAIR Annual Report 2010 (NSF HRD-0810978)
Full-time SEM Women Faculty at Rutgers For Rutgers University as a whole, the percent of women faculty in science, engineering & mathematics (SEM) disciplines decreases with increasing rank RU-FAIR Annual Report 2010 (NSF HRD-0810978)
Women In Chemistry (3 campuses) (3 years) • New Brunswick: ~ 30% (n = 40) • Newark: ~20% (n = 14) • Camden: (n = 4) 2009-10 (n = 5) 2010-11 RU-FAIR Annual Report 2010 (NSF HRD-0810978)
Demographics : SEM Disciplines (Camden) • Comparison with available pool of PhD degreed women • Camden campus needs improvement RU-FAIR Annual Report 2010 (NSF HRD-0810978)
NSF ADVANCE GRANT FALL 2008 • Office for the Promotion of Women in Science, Engineering and Mathematics (WiSEM) • Profiles of Women Faculty: http:// sciencewomen.rutgers.edu/profiles • Rutgers University for Faculty Advancement & Institutional Re-imagination (RU-FAIR) http:// rufair.rutgers.edu • RU-FAIR Mini-grants; RU-FAIR Life Cycle Grants • RU-FAIR Professors (focus on specific campus environment)
ACTIVITIES IN CAMDEN • Focus Group • Exit Interviews • Grant Workshop(s) • Work-Life Balance Workshop • Mentoring • Recruitment • Communication
EXIT INTERVIEW SUMMARY • Camden only: small group physical science tenure-track faculty (male & female) • Resources needed: technicians, administrative support, grant support, laboratory facilities and equipment • Professional Development: need for research collaborations (small departments) • Promotion Criteria: teaching valued by departments yet not major part of tenure/ promotion decision (grants/papers required)
FOCUS GROUP • Invited all science faculty including social science • Majority female in social science departments (satisfied with informal mentoring) • Resources: grant writing/administrative support needed • Rutgers has a policy of “stopping the tenure clock” for child birth • Women felt more obligated to attend university events • Supportive role of women in campus functions, but may deter individual research progress
WORKSHOPS • Grant Workshop • Work-Life Balance • Leadership • Negotiation • Coaching
CONCERNS • Communication (at Camden & between campuses) • Challenge of traveling to other campuses • Video conferencing option • Time for everything we desire . . .
Advantages of Professional Organizations • American Chemical Society (ACS) • COACh (http://coach.uoregon.edu): Committee on the Advancement of women in Chemistry; excellent, affordable training (Highly recommend!) • Local section ACS networking: ability to meet other women faculty from other institutions • Networking with women at ACS national meetings • AWIS (http://www.awis.org) • ASA (http://www.asa3.org)
SUMMARY • NSF ADVANCE Support • One University: 3 campuses: unique concerns/needs • PUI more like liberal arts institution • Mentoring support throughout career • Reach out to others • Care for colleagues
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS • RU-FAIR NSF Award to Rutgers University (HRD-0810978) • NB Staff: Christina Leshko, Doreen Valentine, Natalie Batmanian • Co-PIs: Joan Bennett, Pat Roos, Nancy Rosoff • RU-FAIR Faculty: Judith Weis, Maggie Shiffrar, Helen Buettner • RU-NB Faculty: Kathryn Uhrich, Lisa Klein • New Assistant in Camden: Daitza Frydel Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.
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