Diversifying the Science & Engineering Workforce: Academic Employment Issues

Portrait of an Intractable ProblemCathy A. Trower, Ph.D.January 15, 2005

The National Bureau of Economic Research

1970s

• Affirmative Action• Executive Order 11375

• Title IX

• Women’s Groups in Professional Organizations

1980s• Committees on the Status of Women and

Minorities• Rosters of Scholars in Discipline• Career Advancement Workshops• Survival Guides• AAUP’s Committee W• Women’s Studies Programs• Coaching

– Resume writing– Interviewing techniques– Getting published– Achieving tenure

1990s• Target of Opportunity Hires• Climate and Quality of Life Studies• Data Collection• Mentoring• NSF ADVANCE• MIT/JHU/MI• Diversity Offices and Officers• Policy Changes:

– Stop the clock - Modified duties– Part-time tenure - On-site child care– Flexible tenure clock - Training– Salary equity

Science & Engineering, Gender, 1981-2001

0

20

40

60

80

100

Tenured TT NTT

Males 1981 Females 1981

Males 2001 Females 2001

Percent Women 1981 2001

Doctorates Science Engineering

295

4819

Faculty Full-Time Senior Full-Time Junior Part-time

82253

213958

Rank Professor Associate Assistant Instructor

2332423

23293612

70

49

69

50

16 182727

2313

23

14

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Males1981

Females1981

Males2001

Females2001

Tenured

TT

NTT

S&E Faculty Salaries, Sex, 2001, 4-year colleges & universities

Studies have shown that gender disparities in faculty salaries have remained unchanged at approximately 20 percent over the past 30 years, with unexplained disparities of about 12 percent remaining after accounting for time in service and discipline for women over 40.

In 1000’s

Total< 10 years

Total> 10 years

Tenured

< 10Years

Tenured

> 10 years

On TT< 10 Years

On TT> 10 years

Male

Female

48

45

78.2

66

60

52

80

69

52.5

48.5

65

61.9

Science & Engineering, Race, 1981-2001

0

5

10

15

20

Tenured TT NTT

Asian 1981 URM 1981

Asian 2001 URM 2001

Percent URM 1981 2001

Doctorates Science Engineering

4.32

8.68

Faculty Full-Time Full-Time Non Faculty and PT

3.13.6

6.47.1

Rank Professor Associate Assistant

5.27.98.6

66

52 53 57

8

69

2619

3125 22

1522 17 18

01020304050607080 Tenured

TT

NTT

S&E Faculty Salaries, Race, 2001, 4-year colleges & universities

Overall, White faculty have the highest salaries; however, differences occur by tenure status. As with gender, salaries by race have remained relatively constant over the past 20 years.

In 1000’s Total Tenured TT NTT

White 65 75 52 50

Black 60 71 51.3 52

Asian/PI 58 75 60 45

Hispanic 57.6 69.7 51 47.5

Nat Amer 60 60 -- --

Market Forces

• Athletes

• Graduate Students

• GAO / Title IX

• Competition to be a Great Place to Work – Initiative on New Scholars

Data SourcesBabco, E.L. and N.E. Bell (2004). Professional Women and Minorities:

A Total Human Resource Data Compendium, 15th Edition. Washington, DC: Commission on Professionals in Science and Technology.

Climbing the Ladder: An Update on the Status of Doctoral Women Scientists and Engineers (1983). Washington, DC: National Academy Press.

National Science Board (2004). Science and Engineering Indicators 2004. Arlington, VA: National Science Foundation (Volume 1, NSB 04-1; Volume 2, NSB 04-1A).

National Science Foundation, Division of Science Resources Statistics (2004). Women, Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities in Science and Engineering: 2004. NSF 04-317 (Arlington, VA, 2004).

U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), Winter 2001–02.