Initiatives on
Women's Issues

Update as of 11/21/03:

• Haignere Inc., has completed a gender and race salary equity study on faculty and staff at USU. This project includes training USU staff to replicate the study in future years.
• Based on the study's findings of gender/race salary disparities, President Hall made initial salary adjustments at the beginning of the 2003/2004 fiscal year.

2. Create centrally-funded positions as incentives for Deans to hire more women/minority faculty—Stan Albrecht, Executive Vice President and Provost

Update as of 9/19/02:

• Discretionary funding has been made available to the Provost’s Office for addressing issues of recruitment and retention of faculty, and spousal accommodation, with emphasis placed on securing a more diverse faculty.

3. Identify incentives to attract a diverse group of graduate students (e.g. McNair scholarships or "topping off" counteroffer funds)—Tom Kent, Dean, School of Graduate Studies

Update as of 02/25/04:

Dean Kent has:

• named a new Associate Dean (Larry Smith) whose primary responsibility will reside in the area of recruitment, especially the recruitment of students who will make our campus more inclusive;
• established a recruitment schedule that emphasizes visits to locations with students from diverse backgrounds;
• begun to coordinate campus-wide recruitment efforts to improve inclusiveness;
• awarded funds to help departments recruit a diverse group of talented students;
• identified a small amount of funding during the 2002-2003 academic year for "topping off" stipends to make support packages more competitive.
• began visits with college deans to determine how we might emulate our partnership with the Colleges of Science and Engineering to develop new four-year fellowships for underrepresented students.

  
  4. Identify funds to more fully support spouse accommodation as a critical issue relating to faculty retention—Stan Albrecht, Executive Vice President and Provost; Fred Hunsaker, Vice President for Administrative Services

  
  Student-Related Actions:

1. Engage women in academic and practical experiences that strengthen their sense of self and prepare them to pursue leadership roles — Dr. Juan N. Franco, Vice President for Student Services

Update as of 2/25/04:

• The Women's Leadership Institute, currently offered each spring semester, has been initiated by the Women's Center and is called, "Learning Today Leading Tomorrow." Ninety-seven percent of those enrolled in 2002, rated the class as good to very good. The purpose of the Institute is to increase understanding of women's diverse roles and contributions to society; to facilitate experiences which empower women as leaders during and beyond their university experience; and to provide role models and mentors.
  
  Topics covered in the Institute include: Women Leaders and their Accomplishments; Styles of Leadership; Women’s Thinking and Learning Styles; Leadership Opportunities and Interaction; Management Strategies; Effective Uses of Technology; Living in a Diverse World; and Balance: Building a Sense of Self.

2. Women's basketball program—Fred Hunsaker, Acting Director of Athletics; Stan Albrecht, Executive Vice President and Provost

Update as of 11/21/03:

• The newly reinstated women's basketball program has brought a great amount of positive publicity to the University. The team is competing in its first season since 1986-87 with eight freshmen, two sophomores and two juniors. Private contributors helped remodel an old locker room and purchased lockers and video equipment. The team is planning a summer foreign tour to Australia in 2005.

 

3. Rape/Sexual Assault Prevention -- Juan N. Franco, Vice President for Student Services; Sue Guenter-Schlesinger, Assistant Executive Vice President for Affirmative Action and Diversity

Update as of 2/25/04:

• USU has established a university-wide comprehensive program designed to help prevent rape and other sexual assaults. The program, known as SAAVI (Sexual Assault & Anti-Violence Prevention Program) has a mission to provide a comprehensive delivery of support and training programs, services, and policies related to creating healthy relationships and violence-free environments for the well being of students, faculty, and staff. Members of the University-wide committee, which will provide oversight for the program, include the Assistant Executive Vice President for Affirmative Action and Diversity, the Vice President for Student Services, the Director of Athletics, the Student Body President, the Director of the USU Police department, and several other university representatives.

   

Hiring/Recruitment:

1. Place more women and minority staff into leadership positions—Stan Albrecht, Executive Vice President and Provost

Update as of 11/21/03:

• On May 1, 2002, President Hall announced the appointments of Noelle Cockett as the new Dean for the College of Agriculture and Caryn Beck-Dudley as the new Dean for the College of Business.
  
• Over the past several years, women have been named into numerous leadership positions, including Sue Guenter-Schlesinger, Assistant Executive VP for Affirmative Action and Diversity; Jodi Bailey, Director of Internal Audits; Barbara White, Vice President for Information Technology/CIO; Joyce Kinkead, Vice Provost for Undergraduate Teaching and Research; Sydney Peterson, Assistant Provost; Linda Wolcott, Vice Provost for Libraries; Negar Davis, Director of International Students and Scholars; Heidi Beck, Interim Registrar.

 

2. Attract more women and minority students, particularly but not exclusively, in nontraditional fields like Natural Resources—Stan Albrecht, Executive Vice President and Provost

Faculty/Staff Support Services:

1. Identify strategies to address child care issues that are critical to women and men faculty/staff retention— Juan N. Franco, Vice President for Student Services

Update as of 02/25/04:

• Efforts are currently underway to raise funds to build an expanded child care facility to serve the growing needs of students, faculty and staff. The new facility will triple the number of children that can be accommodated. A Steering Committee made up of faculty, students and administrators is developing plans for the facility. A committee has been identified to lead the fund raising effort.

 

2. Develop a new faculty and staff orientation/mentorship program that starts at the hiring point. For faculty, this program continues through the tenure process—Stan Albrecht, Executive Vice President and Provost; Chris Fawson, Vice Provost for Academic and International Affairs; Jay Greene, President of Professional Employees Association; Mel Johnson, President of the Classified Employees Association

Faculty:

Update as of 9/19/02:

• Faculty Orientation: The second year of a new faculty orientation program was held on August 22, 2002, at the Alumni Center. The primary objective was to provide a warm welcome to USU, and present overviews of the research, teaching and extension missions of the University. A packet containing information from a wide variety of University offices was distributed.

Staff:

Update as of 9/19/02:

• New Employee Orientation: The USU "Welcome Program" is a new Employee Orientation Program and was held for the first time on August 22, 2002. This quarterly orientation experience is for recently hired faculty and staff and aims at providing them with a general understanding of the larger campus community and resources. This program was designed with the philosophy that the first few weeks and months of an employee's career are crucial, and that a warm welcome, combined with resource information could be immensely helpful. The USU "Welcome Program" consists of a continental breakfast and services expo, followed by a series of presentations by key campus units and administrators. This USU "Welcome Program" is supported with an online orientation web site and a monthly benefits orientation.

Faculty and Staff:

Update as of 9/19/02:

• Mentorship: A mentorship program for new faculty and staff is being developed. New faculty or staff will be able to request a mentor, who will be named by the Provost's Office, after consultation with the Department Head. Mentors will have good rapport with the new faculty/staff member, be able to successfully navigate through University processes, and have a thorough understanding of the tenure and promotion process. The effectiveness of the mentorship program will be assessed annually.

3. Faculty and Staff Health Issues - Fred Hunsaker, Vice President for Administrative Services

Update as of 9/19/02:

• The University Health Benefits Committee is continuing their work to ensure USU's health benefits most effectively meet the needs of all University employees.

 

 

4. Rape/Sexual Assault Prevention Program -- Gary Chambers, Interim Vice President for Student Services; Fred Hunsaker, Acting Director of Athletics; Sue Guenter-Schlesinger, Assistant Executive Vice President for Affirmative Action and Diversity Office

 

Update as of 2/25/04:

• USU has established a university-wide comprehensive program designed to help prevent rape and other sexual assaults. The program, known as SAAVI (Sexual Assault & Anti-Violence Prevention Program) has a mission to provide a comprehensive delivery of support and training programs, services, and policies related to creating healthy relationships and violence-free environments for the well being of students, faculty, and staff. Members of the University-wide committee, which will provide oversight for the program, include the Assistant Executive Vice President for Affirmative Action & Diversity, the Vide President for Student Services, the Director of the USU Police department, and several other university representatives.

   

Compact Planning:

Tie these recommendations/proposals into compact plans—President Hall

[Please send questions and comments about these initiatives and other matters related to Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity to Dr. Sue Guenter- Schlesinger, (435) 797-1266, [sue.guenter.schlesinger@usu.edu]]




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Last Modified 11/21/03