Researchers analyzing the representation of women in leadership at UNC are forming another vision — seeing how the University’s faculty diversity compares with its peer institutions.
The Status of Women Committee met Tuesday to discuss progress on an analysis of female representation in leadership positions this year. In March, the committee will re-present its findings to the Faculty Council.
Nancy Demore, chairwoman of the committee, said she would like to ask for a research assistant and budget next year to compare UNC’s numbers to its peers.
The committee also discussed a way of evaluating long-term equality in female representation in a time- and cost-efficient manner by considering department chair reviews.
If significant inequalities are found in leadership positions, they will be addressed in the chair reviews, which occur every five years, Demore said.
The committee decided not to recommend that UNC conduct a study across the entire University every five years because it would not be time- or cost-efficient.
“It’s the way change happens — small, incremental steps, not big studies,” committee member Jane Thrailkill said.
Demore said the committee is approaching the issue in an unbiased manor.
“One thing we thought was important was not to start with preconceived notions and to act like scientists — this is factual data analysis,” she said.
