Gender Research
Equity & Diversity at USU: Women in STEM By Ace Beorchia, MS student, Sociology, Christy Glass Professor, Sociology, and Helga Van Miegroet Professor Emeritus, Wildland Resources
IN 2016, WE SET OUT TO STUDY THE CLIMATE FOR WOMEN SCIENTISTS at USU at all career stages, from graduate school through promotion to full professor. We collected survey data from all current STEM faculty and graduate students, conducted a census of women’s representation in departmental and college administrative leadership, and analyzed the distribution of all university and college awards for the past 30 years. Our findings reveal many ways in which USU supports women scientists. Most women faculty and graduate students express satisfaction with their program or department. Graduate students are satisfied with funding and advising, and faculty trust in their department
heads and the university administration. Our findings also reveal ways USU can improve the climate for women in STEM. Nearly a third of women graduate students have experienced bias, harassment or discrimination at USU. Women faculty and graduate students are also less likely than their male peers to believe their departments are supportive, welcoming, or collegial. Among graduate students, women as compared to men report less mentor support related to career advancement, networking, teaching, navigating departmental politics, grant writing, and publishing. Among faculty, women as compared to men feel less able to contribute to departmental decisions regarding hiring and promotion, and
graduate student selection. What factors might contribute to women’s perception of a “chilly climate” at USU? Our study revealed two areas that may contribute to women’s lack of support: recognition of scientific achievement through awards and leadership representation. Women scientists are underrepresented as recipients of university and college awards. Men in STEM are six times more likely than women to receive a university-level research award and twice as likely to receive a college research award, even though there are no differences between men and women when it comes to research productivity. Women’s representation in leadership
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