Twelve faculty from seven ACA institutions gathered in Asheville, NC in late July and early August to launch a yearlong institutional policy and process audit – an initiative designed to address the second of ACCE’s goals. Facilitated by Kris De Welde, Professor of Women’s and Gender Studies at the College of Charleston, this three-day convening was the first of several touch points for participating institutional leaders. Participants were provided tools for assessing the impact of institutional policies and procedures; presented research findings from ADVANCE concerning various policies and procedures that promote equity and inclusion; and afforded time and space to identify a plan for how they’ll go about their work when they return to campus. Over the course of the 2024-2025 academic year, ACCE leaders will remotely convene the participants and their expanded teams monthly to learn from policy experts; provide updates to the cohort; troubleshoot challenges; and celebrate institutional successes.
The purpose of this initiative is to help participating institutions address the significant challenge of hiring and retaining women and underrepresented minorities in STEM faculty positions, particularly at small rural institutions in the Appalachian region. “We can’t bring about lasting change without addressing the context within which faculty members are recruited, hired, and retained,” said Beth Rushing, ACA President and Principal Investigator of the ACA’s NSF ADVANCE grant. “I am incredibly pleased with the progress made by our campus teams at this workshop and look forward to working with them over the next year as they evaluate their institution’s policies and procedures and explore potential changes.”
Additional ACA institutions will have the opportunity to audit their policies and processes in the 2025-2026 cohort. ACA leaders interested in learning more about this institutional intervention should contact Rushing or look for ACCE leaders at upcoming ACA events, such as Summit – where the grant’s leadership will be available for questions and inquiries.
Funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) ADVANCE Program, Award #2304868 aims to address the significant challenge of hiring and retaining women and underrepresented minorities in STEM faculty positions, particularly at small rural institutions in the Appalachian region. As a non-profit consortium of 33 private four-year liberal arts institutions, the Appalachian College Association (ACA) serves Appalachian communities through the transformational work of its faculty, staff, and students. The National Science Foundation’s ADVANCE program is aimed at increasing the participation and advancement of women in academic science and engineering careers, thereby developing a more diverse science and engineering workforce. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the NSF.
