Baltimore , Maryland
June 25, 2023
June 25, 2023
June 28, 2023
Women in Engineering Division (WIED)
Diversity
12
10.18260/1-2--43743
https://peer.asee.org/43743
171
Shawna Vican is an Assistant Professor of Sociology and Criminal Justice at the University of Delaware. She received her Ph.D. in Sociology from Harvard University. As a scholar of gender and organizations, Dr. Vican's work seeks to understand why gender inequality in the workplace persists and how organizations can affect change, with three main research streams: (1) how organizational practices shape workplace gender inequality, (2) explaining heterogeneity in employer responses to social pressures for DEI efforts, and (3) causes, consequences, and solutions to inequality within the context of academic careers.
Robin O. Andreasen (Ph.D. University of Wisconsin-Madison) is Professor of Linguistics and Cognitive Science. She earned her PhD in philosophy and specializes in philosophy of science, philosophy of social science, and in science and policy. A race and g
Heather Doty is an associate professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Delaware (UD). Dr. Doty teaches undergraduate courses in thermodynamics, statics, and dynamics, and conducts research on gender in the academic STEM workforce. She is co
This evidence-based practice paper describes the development and implementation of an interactive workshop for department chairs focused on strategies to foster inclusive department climates at the University of X (UX). Literature on the underrepresentation of women in STEM suggests climate is a key factor in women faculty’s lower levels of job satisfaction and higher rates of turnover. Building on this scholarship, multiple research projects at UX motivate the need for institutional efforts to improve climate and the central role of department chairs in fostering inclusive climates. For instance, faculty climate surveys reveal relatively low levels of faculty satisfaction with department collegiality, and that effective chair leadership directly shapes job satisfaction for women faculty. A mixed-methods project on faculty retention demonstrates disproportionately high levels of turnover for women faculty of color, with respondents citing department climate as a key factor in their decision to leave the university. In this paper, we outline the research that led to the development of the workshop, detailing how research findings inform specific workshop content, including case studies. We discuss workshop structure, including the decision to offer the workshop by college/unit within UX, allowing us to bring together small groups of chairs for facilitated discussion and the sharing of experiences. We also address the role of deans in securing institutional commitment for the project, as well as initial evaluation results and plans for long-term evaluation. Finally, we highlight follow-up efforts to develop and disseminate new resources on fostering inclusive department climates, including a written guide that builds off strategies that emerged during workshop discussion, encouraging department chairs to learn from the experiences of colleagues across the university. Preferred presentation method: Traditional lecture
Vican, S., & Andreasen, R., & Doty, H. (2023, June), Fostering Inclusive Department Climates: A Workshop for Department Chairs at the University of X Paper presented at 2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Baltimore , Maryland. 10.18260/1-2--43743
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