Wayne State University issued the following announcement on Aug. 20
WSU GEARS project will focus on eliminating barriers that exist in hiring and retaining women in natural, physical and social sciences; technology; engineering; and mathematics disciplines
Wayne State University has received a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) that will help create systemic change to increase equity among women faculty, particularly underrepresented minorities, in STEM disciplines. The three-year award, totaling $992,495, will support the ADVANCE Adaptation: Gender Equity Advances Retention in STEM (WSU GEARS) project (NSF #2017586).
The importance of representation among faculty is an ongoing conversation in higher education, and universities across the nation are working to improve diversity within their STEM disciplines. The number of women faculty members in STEM at Wayne State increased to 20% in 2018, up from 14% in 2010, showing an upward trend reached through efforts to increase gender equity. Yet, only 13% of the university’s STEM faculty members are underrepresented minorities, and from an intersectional perspective, only 2.6% of STEM faculty members are underrepresented minority women as of 2019.
“Wayne State’s commitment to faculty success is based in the understanding that all faculty are valuable and that their expertise and backgrounds create an academic environment where their peers and students alike can learn thrive,” said Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Keith Whitfield. “We know that some of our faculty face unique barriers, and the WSU GEARS project will play an important role in identifying and overcoming them to create a more inclusive, equitable environment on campus.”
Original source can be found here.
Source: Wayne State University
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