Organizational Change and Gender Equity in the Academy

• In Event: 266 - Regular Session. Gender and Work in the Academy

Abstract

Organizational change within universities has been documented as slow and labor intensive. Departmental climate, particularly interactions with colleagues, remains an area wherein women continue to feel excluded. We designed, implemented, and assessed a dialogical process for promoting gender equity and organizational change within eight STEM departments. We administered a survey both before and after the department facilitation in order to capture departmental change on variables associated with positive climate. The departmental facilitation resulted in measurable improvements in key aspects of the positive climate key to women’s success (e.g. reductions in conflict and dependence; increases in collective efficacy); as well as more realistic view of the effort needed to attain gender equity (decrease in optimism).

Authors

• Melissa Latimer, West Virginia University

• Kasi Jackson, West Virginia University

• Lisa M Dilks, West Virginia University

• James J. Nolan, West Virginia University

• Leslie Tower, West Virginia University