Using Data to Drive Institutional Change: University of Delaware ADVANCE Institute Research on Faculty Women of Color

• Published in: Association for Engineering Education - Engineering Library Division Papers
• Main Author: Vican, Shawna
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Atlanta American Society for Engineering Education-ASEE 29.04.2018
• Subjects: Gender aspects; Microclimate; Social sciences; Student retention

One of the goals of the University of Delaware (UD) ADVANCE Institute is to improve departmental microclimates and institutional support for women STEM faculty, with a particular focus on women of color. The UD ADVANCE team takes a data driven approach to understanding the experiences of faculty women of color on campus, employing a combination of social science research, institutional data, and evaluation. Using mixed methods, we find these women face particular structural barriers and report distinct experiences both within their departments and more broadly as faculty at the university. Cohort analysis results reveal gender differences in promotion and retention rates, particularly among women of color, while climate survey analyses and interviews about faculty satisfaction reveal faculty of color perceive departmental climates as less positive than peers across multiple dimensions. Through interviews with departing faculty, as well as faculty negotiating retention packages, we clarify additional factors affecting faculty of color retention. In this paper, we (1) discuss main findings about the climate for faculty of color on our campus, (2) describe how social science research, institutional data, and evaluation inform our programmatic work, and (3) highlight how the strategic use of data allows us to better engage campus stakeholders in institutional change efforts in support of faculty diversity.