Note: Thank you for your interest in ADVANCE Project TRACS, our NSF funded Institutional Transformational Grant which ended August 31, 2017. The pages that follow are historical documents for informational purposes only.

Enhancing Cultural Attunement Team Lead

Team Lead: Ian Handley

ADVANCE promotes respectful communication, sensitivity to the dynamics of relationships within a culture, and respect for the values and beliefs of cultures. It comes from the active and vigilant practice of maintaining cultural humility, and represents active attention and ongoing mindfulness. To realize this, we implement diversity depth hires, build an equity search toolkit and equity advocate program, and continue to engage the MSU community in unconscious bias education.

Click here to view Cultural Attunement Resource List

Diversity Depth Hires

To create an incentive for a department to increase the depth of diversity within their faculty, the department that has only one or two women faculty members may submit a proposal to perform a diversity search (diversity as a required characteristic) for a second or third woman faculty member. That department may propose to search immediately and "pay for" the hire when a faculty line in the department comes open (as a mortgage of sorts). The goal of diversity depth hiring is to reduce the isolation that single members of an underrepresented group often feel. We have commitment by the Provost to sustain four such hires, one of which is donated by the Montana EPSCoR project. Funding will be tapered off each year, with all of the funding for the line being assumed by the department by the end of the grant.

What we will do

Timeline

Hypothesized Need-support

Diversity Depth "Hire-Now" Program
  • Create forms: Depth Hire Request and Bridge Partner Requests for Departments to submit
  • Committee to review requests established
  • Provost and Deans approve forms
  • Forms finalized November 28, 2012
  • Provost send out forms to Dean's for distribution
  • Bring Affirmative Action Expert to Campus May 2014
  • Taking Affirmative Action to diversifying the faculty: Legal, Practical, and Social Justice Considerations on May 16, 3:00-4:00 pm
  • Investigate Sustainability Options
  • Follow our successes in hires.
  • Now reviewing proposals and transforming through hires! Apply today!

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Autonomy

Competence

 

Search Tool kit

With the assistance of H.R. and best practices from other ADVANCE grant programs we will create a Search Committee Tool Kit that provides training modules for committee members; equity advisors; assistance with creation of ads/solicitations; 'de-bugging' of department websites to highlight commitment to diversity; and guidance for campus visits and offer letters.

What we will do

Timeline

Hypothesized Need-support

Development of Diversity Search Tool Kit
  • Initial "kit" given to Committees Fall 2012
  • Research other University Tool Kit's
  • Create Committee to work on expanded toolkit
  • Draft Toolkit
  • Implement and test effectiveness of toolkit with randomly selected searches
  • Read results analyzing the effectiveness of toolkit.
  • 50% of the new faculty hires made in 2012-2013 in STEM/SBS were women. Follow our successes in hires.
  • Seek campus feedback on toolkit. Revise Toolkit.
  • Create Search Toolkit Webinar
  • Get your copy of the WISELI "Searching for Excellence and Diversity: A Guide for Search Committees".
  • Create and institutionalize search record form
  • Work with HR to institutionalize search toolkit.
  • Work with HR to create a generic job template, vacancy ad and screening matrix.
  • Providing more than 300 one-on-one meetings with potential job candidates with a Family Advocate.
  • Providing assistance to more than 88 search committees
  • Provide your candidates with information on work-life integration.
  • Contact ADVANCE to assist with your search today!

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Competence

 

Institutional Education/Training

MSU will continue to engage in campus-wide conversations about unconscious bias in general and specific places in which gender bias is prevalent (e.g., work-life issues). These workshops and programs will be on-going with the entire university four-campus community (not just faculty). Such a program includes: 1) bringing a professional workshop facilitator or invited speakers to campus; 2) the development of a website that can serve as an information portal for Deans and Department Heads across campuses; and 3) the dissemination of printed materials to be provided as a packet at various critical employment or family junctures, including information for candidates during the course of campus interviews, information for faculty members at new hire orientations, information for faculty members at the time of a relevant "major life transition", as well as information for members of hiring committees, annual review committees and promotion and tenure committees. We have secured commitment from H.R. to provide supplemental support for these programs.

What we will do

Timeline

Hypothesized Need-support

Institutional Education Campaign
  • Information and orientation one-on-one meetings with all MSU Bozeman Deans and Department Heads and Department Chairs
  • Project TRACS - How we can all contribute to Institutional Transformation (DEAL presentation) presented by Dr. Jessi L. Smith and Dr. Sara Rushing on March 21, 2013 from 3 - 5 pm
  • Opportunities for Enhancing Research Capacity: Learn What INBRE/EPSCoR/ADVANCE Can Offer You! on March 26, 2013 from 11:45 - 1 pm in SUB 235
  • Join us for the Climate Data Charrette April 9, 2013 at 3:00 pm in the Leigh Lounge in the SUB.
  • Check out the 2013 Climate Data Charrette Posters.
  • Join us for the Second Climate Data Charrette April 15, 2014 from 3:30 - 5:00 pm in the Leigh Lounge in the SUB.
  • Check out the second Climate Data Charrette Posters (2014).
  • Check out the third Climate Data Charrette (2015).
  • Check out the fourth Climate Data Charrette (2016).
  • STRIDE: Strategies and Tactics for Recruiting to Improve Diversity and Excellence presents a Workshop on Faculty Recruitment for Diversity and Excellence - April 29, 2013 from 9:00 - 10:30 am in SUB 233.
  • Check out a video of the Workshop on Faculty Recruitment for Diversity and Excellence
  • Join us for two days of Workshops on Hastening Diversity at MSU: A Workshop with Dr. Jmber 17th & 18th.
  • Join us for a presentation by Dr. Toni Schmader on October 25th from 12 - 1.
  • Organizing two small group meetings per a semester with all NEW women faculty at MSU Bozeman with ADVANCE directors and VIP guests.
  • Implement "First Lecture" introductions for new faculty women in STEM/SBS. Click here for more information and video.
  • Research availability of the CRLT Acting Troupe
  • Schedule CRLT (Center for Research on Learning and Teaching)
  • CRLT (Center for Research on Learning and Teaching) will be at MSU on February 24, 2014.
  • Lunch with Emily Graslie from the Field Museum and the Brain Scoop
  • Create proposal for sustaining speaker series through Women's and Gender Studies new course
  • WGSS494 Course approved. Enroll for Spring 2015 with Dr. Smith
  • Organize and promote visit by Dr. Joan Williams: "What works for women at work" Thursday, April 23, 2015 at 7:00 pm in SUB Ballroom C & D.
  • Organize and promote educational play and workshop "It Depends on the Lens" for February 4 at 11 a.m. in the SUB Ballrooms. The Cornell University ADVANCE Center/Cornell Interactive Theatre Ensemble presented a program illustrating how unintended bias occurs in academia, particularly during faculty searches. 86 faculty and staff attended. 
  • Research/Schedule additional workshops/trainings.

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Autonomy

 

Equity Advocate

MSU will establish a program of (male and female) equity advocates who receive specific training in diversity awareness and cultural attunement. They would not have decision making authority, but would specifically contribute a voice that values diverse perspectives to all personnel (e.g., search, P&T) and budget committees and serve as general advocates for equity and diversity on campus. They would be compensated for their efforts and highly trained. We have commitment by the Director of Faculty Development and H.R to assist with the organization and training of the Equity Advocates.

What we will do

Timeline

Hypothesized Need-support

Create Equity Advisor Program

Relatedness
Autonomy
Competence

 

Equity Data Analyst

Completely funded by the Office of the President, we will hire a part-time analyst responsible for ongoing data collection and analyses to monitor gender equity among faculty and disseminate findings. Importantly, the analyst would set up a system so that such data would be transparent, publicly available, and accessible for investigation.

What we will do

Timeline

Hypothesized Need-support

Hire New Equity Data Analyst

Relatedness
Autonomy
Competence

 

Diversity in Department Head/Chair Reviews (Departmental Self-Study)

We will implement a new policy that requires all departments to outline a strategic plan regarding diversity; specifically for overcoming weaknesses and celebrating successes. All departments will be asked to present data each year on how well the plan is being met. This portion of the department's evaluation will be submitted each year to the chair of the President's Commission on the Status of University Women for evaluation and feedback.

What we will do

Timeline

Hypothesized Need-support

Require departments to include enhancing diversity in Departmental Reviews
  • Develop worksheet.
  • Attend meeting with all DH/DCs to present worksheet.
  • Template distributed to all DH/DC.
  • Form the subcommittee from the Commission to review.
  • Completed forms due March 2015
  • Review and discussion with all MSU Bozeman Deans with invitation to all Department Heads and Department Chairs regarding Spring 2015 self-studies
  • See Supportive Feedback.
  • Panel discussion on diffusing diversity into department missions March 2014
  • Annual Self-Study due by the deadline set by your Dean. The deadline for Deans to submit to the Office of the Provost is April 15, 2015. Access the Self-Study form here.
  • Review and discussion with all MSU Bozeman Deans with invitation to all Department Heads and Department Chairs regarding Spring 2015 self-studies
  • Annual Self-Study due by the deadline set by your Dean. The deadline for Deans to submit to the Office of the Provost is April 15, 2016. Access the Self-Study form here.
  • Review and discussion with all MSU Bozeman Deans Summer 2016
  • Annual Self-Study due by the deadline set by your Dean. The deadline for Deans to submit to the Office of the Provost is April 15, 2017. 

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Competence

 

Women in Science Distinguished Professor Award:
Life, Natural, Engineering, and Social Sciences

We will recognize and honor the accomplishments of outstanding women science faculty members who have created, maintained, and/or championed diversity. We will target STEM and SBS alumni for fundraising, with a financial goal of $1 million to be truly transformative. The selection criteria for winners include national and international recognition of scholarly research, a record of excellence in teaching and mentoring, and outstanding contributions to the State of Montana, or to Montana State University. The faculty member chosen as the Distinguished Professor award winner will receive an annual award commensurate with the endowment, but for $4,000 annually for two years of the grant. The winner will be required to give one public lecture on the value and contribution of diversity to their scholarship and experiences and will serve as a voice and role model for others on campus via panel discussions and workshops.

What we will do

Timeline

Hypothesized Need-support

Establish Women in Science Distinguished Professor Award: Life, Natural, Engineering, and Social Sciences
  • Conference call with Foundation to discuss fundraising in Oct 2012
  • Coordinate with foundation on endowment fundraising
  • Funds Secured from President's office to support award.
  • Secured generous $25,000 gift for award!
  • Create Award Nomination Call
  • Nominate someone for the award today. Nomination Deadline October 31, 2013
  • Assemble esteemed review team to select winner.
  • Learn about the history of the award and meet the current winner.
  • Host first Biennial Women in Science Empowerment Lunch.
  • Work with stakeholders to create an ADVANCE Professorship for Women. Click here to read professorship summary .
  • THINK BIG Think Tank challenge: "Women in STEM/SBS The Montana Pipeline Initiative" submitted to foundation for possible fundraising
  • Working with potential donors and deans to secure $1 million gift for an ADVANCE Endowed Professorship, Read the MSUAF Summary Here
  • Coordinate second award nomination selection and celebration in 2015 - 2016
  • Secured another generous gift of $10,000 for award!
  • Dr. Sarah Codd was selected as the new winner of this award and 67 people attended the Women's Empowerment Luncheon to celebrate on February 26, 2016. Click here to learn more.
  • Continue to work with Deans to fundraise to sustain this award through the Provost's office. 

Relatedness
Autonomy
Competence

National Science Foundation logo The material on this site is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) under Grant No. 1208831. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.