The advancement of women faculty at very high research universities in the United States
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Citation
Abstract
For over 140 years, women faculty in the United States has struggled to reach the pinnacle of the academic tenure ladder -- the rank of tenured full professor. In 2011, women represented only 29% of tenured professors (U.S. Department of Education, 2012). This mixed-methods study sought to identify individual or groups of discrete factors, and holistically examine any inter-relatedness, which may influence the successful promotion of women faculty to professor. Through interviews with senior administrative leaders at eight private, U.S. non-profit Research I (very high research) Universities, 27, often inter-connected, themes emerged. Specific institutional policies, programs, mechanisms, and best practices were identified as potential pathways for organizational change for those institutions seeking to address this long-standing issue in academia.