abstract: 'Overall, the ADVANCE Catalyst program at Western Washington University

  provides the resources and time necessary for us to probe deeply into

  our internal practices, measure outcomes for faculty, and, most

  importantly, find and focus on the barriers that impede the advancement

  of women faculty within the College of Sciences and Technology (CST).

  One component of the project was the development of a climate survey,

  which was based upon previous surveys at ADVANCE (research-intensive)

  universities, but was specifically adapted to address faculty issues

  unique to comprehensive universities. The development of our survey

  involved our Faculty Leadership Team (FLT), our department

  chairs/directors, and several other faculty members. This paper focuses

  on the findings from the comprehensive institution climate survey that

  we developed, which consisted of approximately 100 questions in seven

  areas of climate indicators: employment demographics, job satisfaction,

  mentoring, leadership, department climate, professional development, and

  equal opportunity. Specifically, we were probing whether department

  dynamics stay ``status quo{''''} longer, if perceptions of peers play a

  heavier role in evaluation, if there are more feelings of isolation, and

  if opportunities for collaborative work are greatly decreased in our

  relatively small sized departments (as compared to research-intensive

  institutions). All faculty members within CST were surveyed. The overall

  response rate was 58\%. Tenured women had the highest response rate, at

  87\%, and 73\% of nontenure track (NTT) women responded. After analyzing

  the data from the survey and meeting with our ADVANCE FLT, we identified

  several key areas of climate indicators that were explored further in

  focus groups: balance of work-life and work-load, leadership and career

  development, and equal opportunity.

  Through our survey, town hall meeting, and focus groups, we found that

  the evolution of our comprehensive institution from a primarily teaching

  university to an institution where a research program is expected has

  placed considerable pressure on our faculty, especially those at

  midcareer. Our heavy teaching responsibilities (inflexible lab

  schedules, research with undergraduates, course innovation,

  mentoring/advising), and service commitments constrain time to such an

  extent that many faculty feel that their research programs suffer or

  become second jobs. CST women serve on more committees, perform much of

  the more time consuming service, and have had fewer leadership roles and

  opportunities. Lack of formal mentoring exacerbates these issues for our

  women. While Western has many policies and programs to address such

  obstacles, faculty are often not aware of them or misunderstand them,

  making them, in fact, inaccessible. Until recently, department chairs

  did not have enough leadership training, development, and support.

  Continuing budget cuts and soaring STEM student demand at our

  institution further intensify these key issues. Based upon the survey,

  focus groups, and conversations with our FLT, we believe that a Faculty

  Advancement Center (FACT) focused on career span initiatives and based

  upon ADVANCE best practices would be the next logical step necessary to

  support women at our institution.'
affiliation: 'Kitto, KL (Corresponding Author), Western Washington Univ, Grad Sch,
  Bellingham, WA 98225 USA.

  Kitto, Kathleen L., Western Washington Univ, Grad Sch, Bellingham, WA 98225 USA.

  Guenter-Schlesinger, Sue, Western Washington Univ, Equal Opportun \& Employment
  Divers, Bellingham, WA USA.'
author: Kitto, Kathleen L. and Guenter-Schlesinger, Sue
author_list:
- family: Kitto
  given: Kathleen L.
- family: Guenter-Schlesinger
  given: Sue
book-group-author: ASEE
booktitle: 2012 ASEE ANNUAL CONFERENCE
da: '2023-09-28'
files: []
issn: 2153-5965
keywords-plus: GENDER; DISCIPLINES; FACULTY
language: English
note: ASEE Annual Conference, San Antonio, TX, JUN 10-13, 2012
number-of-cited-references: '25'
papis_id: 78e6d78a6cdfa5befc1c84ba2731fafc
ref: Kitto2012womenwestern
series: ASEE Annual Conference \& Exposition
times-cited: '0'
title: 'WOMEN OF WESTERN: THE VOICES OF WOMEN-ADVANCE CATALYST AT A COMPREHENSIVE
  INSTITUTION'
type: proceedings
unique-id: WOS:000380253706030
usage-count-last-180-days: '0'
usage-count-since-2013: '1'
web-of-science-categories: 'Education \& Educational Research; Education, Scientific
  Disciplines;

  Engineering, Multidisciplinary'
year: '2012'