Yale University

  

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A-Z Index

Working Groups

WFF Working Groups function as catalyst think tanks, bringing together concerned faculty, staff, and students to generate activist programs and recommendations for the WFF and other stakeholders in the University.

2012-2013:

Institutional Change Working Group

The Institutional Change Working Group focuses on issues of hiring, promotions, tenure, mentoring, and other points at which structural impediments to career advancement may occur. The group is devoted to issues specifically pertaining to the retention and success of female and minority faculty members. Its initiatives focus on:

  • Tenure Practice and Hearings:
    Working for accountability and transparency in the tenure process at the University; documenting inappropriate conduct/comments; and providing/designing networks meant to support post-docs and junior faculty (see below).
  • Mentoring and Networking:
    Researching, creating, and building upon previously effective informal networking and mentoring opportunities for women members of the university, from undergraduates to senior faculty.
  • Data collecting and monitoring of issues pertaining to gender equality at Yale and beyond.

 

Non Ladder Faculty Working Group

The Non Ladder Faculty Working Group's seeks to understand the ways in which different schools use non-ladder faculty and what policies currently exist with respect to these faculty members. The group examines issues such as performance evaluations, contract renewals, pay, promotion, and opportunities for leave. While non-ladder faculty members are a broad and diverse group of teachers, the goal of this group is to develop a set of best practices that is applicable across the University.

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Past Working Groups:

 

40th Anniversary of Coeducation at Yale College Working Group

WFF 40th Anniversary Working Group coordinated with other interested individuals and organizations to plan the celebration of the 40th anniversary of coeducation at Yale in the 2009-2010 school year. Co-Chairs: Laura Wexler and Paula Kavathas

 

Care-Giving Working Group

The Caregiving Working Group worked to generate a discussion about caregiving issues, both child care and elder care, at Yale. Co-Chairs: Caren Gundberg and Amy Hungerford

 

Gender and Globalization Working Group

This group worked to explore the ways in which globalization and gender intersect. As the IARU conference notes indicate, this is a pervasive question in diverse fields of thought. The group provided research and advocacy directed toward: gathering and sharing statistical data related to gender equity, as well as to how equity may be affected by citizenship status and migration; understanding the effects of gender and nationality on educational and faculty opportunities; and pooling each institution’s experience regarding the initiatives they have undertaken to attract and retain women faculty. The priority is to understand more of the role gender plays in the construction of curricula, disciplines, and scholarship and to support more related joint academic ventures among IARU institutions.


Institutional Change Working Group

In 2011-12, WFF’s Institutional Change Working group continued to promote the need for improvement and expansion of childcare facilities at Yale. As a result of conversations with Human Resources and the Office of the Provost, the working group compiled a report on existing childcare facilities on campus with recommendations for short-term and long-term solutions and the need for expanded facilities. WFF participated actively in the convening of several meetings with the Provost’s Office; the Provostial Special Taskforce on Childcare; Michael A. Peel, the Vice President for Human Resources and Administration; and Susan Abramson, Manager of Yale’s Work/Life and Childcare Programs, which is part of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion.

In 2010-2011, the Institutional Change Working group focused on issues of hiring, promotions, tenure, mentoring, and other points at which structural impediments to career advancement may occur. Institutional Change discussed and elaborated on issues generated in Steering and Council meetings, including: data collection on women on service committees; data on women in endowed chairs; data on the proceedings of department and divisional committees; and data surrounding search committee processes and the new tenure process. Some members of the ICWG went with the Steering committee to present a memo containing recommendations on these issues to Provost Salovey, Deputy Provost Chevalier, and Dean Miller.

 

Sexual Misconduct Working Group

The Sexual Misconduct Working Group examined university policies and practices on sexual harassment and sexual assault and offered recommendations for improvement. The group conducted research on University policies and best practices from peer institutions and designed a survey concerned with Yale students’ utilization of university procedures. Co-Chairs: Connie Bagley and Priya Natarajan

 
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