Wichita State University (WSU) will implement an ADVANCE Catalyst project to undertake a comprehensive institutional-assessment and develop a five-year strategic plan of action with proven strategies for increasing equity for STEM faculty. WSU is a growing institution with a diverse student enrollment. The assessment will analyze policies and the underlying systemic issues impacting the participation, success, and retention of women and URM faculty. The Catalyst project will create mechanisms to sustain the efforts after the project ends. The long-term objective is to establish policies, procedures and a community for the continuous promotion of equity and inclusion that will lead to greater representation and advancement of the STEM academic workforce of women and racial and ethnic minorities (underrepresented minorities (URM)) at Wichita State University.
This two-year project will prepare the university for future data collection and data analyses of faculty equity which can be used by institutional leadership to inform decision-making. The Catalyst work will also prepare the institution to implement evidence-based strategies to enhance the university climate for all faculty which will be outlined in a five-year faculty equity strategic plan that will be produced as part of this project.
The NSF ADVANCE program is designed to foster gender equity through a focus on the identification and elimination of organizational barriers that impede the full participation and advancement of diverse faculty in academic institutions. Organizational barriers that inhibit equity may exist in policies, processes, practices, and the organizational culture and climate. ADVANCE "Catalyst" awards provide support for institutional equity assessments and the development of five-year faculty equity strategic plans at an academic, non-profit institution of higher education.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
