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An NCAA for Science and Engineering
On average, only 15 percent of full professors in social, behavioral, and life sciences at top research universities are women. The proportions of female faculty members are even lower in other fields of science and engineering. At a hearing before the House Science and Technology Subcommittee on Research and Science Education on Wednesday, University of Miami President Donna Shalala said that the country needs “an organization like the NCAA that holds us accountable” in the national effort to promote more women into the upper ranks of science.
The hearing focused on the recent National Academies report, “Beyond Bias and Barriers,” which explains that in order “to maintain its scientific and engineering leadership amid increasing economic and educational globalization, the United States must aggressively pursue the innovative capacity of all of its people—women and men.”
The report recommends that “higher education organizations should consider forming an inter-institution monitoring organization,” and compares the work of such an organization to the mass effort required to open and equalize athletics programs.
Hearing witness and NSF Deputy Director Kathie Olsen seconded Shalala’s call for an inter-collegiate organization analogous to the NCAA to enforce Title IX regulations, saying that what’s needed is a full institutional shake-up. “Entire campuses have been dozing on this issue,” she said, adding that making better environments for women improves possibilities for other minorities and for men as well. The NSF currently supports the advancement of women in science and engineering careers with its ADVANCE grants.
The Chronicle of Higher Education (subscription) noted that while other witnesses supported the idea, no one offered specifics about the structure or membership of the organization. Higher education leaders should heed the National Academies recommendations and could grab headlines by framing the new organization as an analog to the NCAA. From there, they can start competing for tournament trophies.
For more:
Inside Higher Ed
The Chronicle
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