ADVANCEADVANCEPanel on Minority Panel on Minority

WomenWomen

Cheryl B. LeggonCheryl B. Leggon

Georgia Institute of Georgia Institute of TechnologyTechnology

ISSUESISSUES

Women of color: falling through Women of color: falling through the cracksthe cracks

MentoringMentoringMultiple?Multiple?Mandatory?Mandatory?

Targeted ProgramsTargeted ProgramsWhat worksWhat worksWhat does not workWhat does not work

Women of ColorWomen of Color

• Assumed to be included Assumed to be included – People of colorPeople of color– WomenWomen

• Systematic research on which to Systematic research on which to base policy and practicebase policy and practice

• Combination of issues by gender Combination of issues by gender and raceand race– Not additiveNot additive– SynergisticSynergistic

Mentoring Program: Mentoring Program: Design ConsiderationsDesign Considerations

• Multiple mentorsMultiple mentors• Mentor from broad discipline but Mentor from broad discipline but

NOT from specific departmentNOT from specific department• Match between mentee and Match between mentee and

mentor based on prioritized list of mentor based on prioritized list of needs from menteeneeds from mentee– Mentee chooses from list of mentorsMentee chooses from list of mentors– Mentee meets with potential mentorsMentee meets with potential mentors

Effective PracticesEffective Practices

• Research drivenResearch driven• InstitutionalizedInstitutionalized• SystematicSystematic• EvaluatedEvaluated

SYSTEMATICALLY MONITORSYSTEMATICALLY MONITOR

• NumbersNumbers• ExperiencesExperiences• Inequities in resourcesInequities in resources

– InformationInformation– Access to graduate studentsAccess to graduate students– EquipmentEquipment– SuppliesSupplies– Support staffSupport staff

SYSTEMATICALLY MONITORSYSTEMATICALLY MONITOR

• Teaching assignmentsTeaching assignments– Number of classesNumber of classes– Numbers of students per classNumbers of students per class– Timing of classesTiming of classes– Number of advisees (level)Number of advisees (level)– Number of theses supervisedNumber of theses supervised

Typology of Targeted Typology of Targeted ProgramsPrograms

Top Top DownDown

Bottom Bottom Up Up

Idiosyn-Idiosyn-craticcratic

ProsPros FormalizeFormalized means to d means to make make changechange

FlexibleFlexible

Low-costLow-cost

ConsCons Requires Requires resourcesresources

Few Few resourcesresources

SuccessioSuccessionn

FragileFragile

ResourcesResources

Minority & white share (in percent) of full Minority & white share (in percent) of full professors professors

by gender: 1999by gender: 1999

2.4 8.2

18.5

70.9

Wo color Men color White wo White men