About the Women's Faculty Cabinet
Mission:
To provide leadership to improve and enrich the academic and professional environments for women faculty at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, and to ensure that the University continues and strengthens its commitment to the success of its women faculty members.
Responsibilities:
- Recommend and respond to University policies affecting women faculty and their teaching, learning, and work environments.
- Promote and assess the University’s efforts in recruiting, mentoring, and retaining women faculty in every academic unit.
- Consult with women faculty across the University regarding their issues, concerns, and visions for women faculty at the University.
- Review programmatic opportunities for women faculty and recommend enhanced programming to serve the needs of women faculty.
- Identify and respond to workplace and professional challenges for women faculty.
- Advise and collaborate with University colleges and departments regarding the creation and implementation of policies and initiatives that affect the teaching, learning, and work environments for women faculty and other women in full-time teaching and research positions at the University.
- Facilitate opportunities for mentoring and networking by, for, and among women faculty.
Promote and assess the University’s commitment to the diversity of women faculty.
In executing these responsibilities, the Women’s Faculty Cabinet will work closely with Vice Provost for Faculty and Academic Affairs and will maintain close working relationships with the Office for Multicultural and Academic Affairs, the Office for University Women, the Office for Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action, the Office for Human Resources, the various University Senate committees and subcommittees, and the other offices, programs, and centers working on issues of concern to faculty women.
Membership:
The Women’s Faculty Cabinet currently has six faculty members who represent the colleges and professional schools, with the Director of the Office of University Women as an ex officio member. The specific membership of the Cabinet consists of at least one tenure-track Assistant Professor and up to five tenured Associate or Full Professors. At least one member should come from each of the following constituencies: the Professional Schools; the Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities; Sciences and Engineering; and the Academic Health Center. The other two members will be selected from among nominees from the remaining areas of the university. The initial set of Cabinet members were appointed by the Vice Provost for Faculty and Academic Affairs, half for two-year and half for three-year terms, with input from the Senate Committee on Equity, Access, and Diversity, a committee of women associate deans from across the colleges and professional schools, and the Director of the Office of University Women. Subsequently, members are appointed for three-year terms jointly by the Vice Provost for Faculty and Academic Affairs and the members of the Cabinet, with continued input from the Senate Committee on Equity, Access, and Diversity. Each year, the Provost’s Office will send out a call for nominations for the women faculty.