Timeline of the President's Commission on the Status of Women History

Timeline of the President's Commission on the Status of Women

December 2005

President William Hynes shares results of the two surveys with the College community: St. Norbert College Campus Climate Survey and Higher Education Research Institute (HERI) survey on faculty attitudes.

Spring 2006

In his mid-year address to the College, President Hynes focuses in detail on the two surveys’ results, noting climate issues and possible responses.
Dr. Michael Marsden,Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of the College, and Dr. Linda Beane-Katner, Administrative Intern, conduct listening sessions with female faculty to better understand faculty attitudes and experiences regarding gender.

May 2006

President Hynes announces in his State of the College speech plans to convene a President’s Commission on the Status of Women at St. Norbert College to advise the President on “how St. Norbert can improve the climate for women.”

Summer 2006

Listening sessions on gender climate are conducted with Academic Affairs staff and with employees in the divisions of Student Life, Mission and Heritage, and Business and Finance during summer and fall.

Fall 2006

Dean Michael Marsden announces in his academic year opening address a Draft Action Plan for Addressing Gender Climate Concerns in Academic Affairs.
Following further College community conversation on issues of gender equity on campus, President Hynes appoints a steering committee and issues a charge for the new Commission on the Status of Women at St. Norbert College. The Commission meets twice in the late fall to refine its charge (link to document), establish its timeline, and add to its membership. Dr. Gratzia Villarroel, Associate Professor of Political Science, chairs the Commission for the 2006-2007 academic year.

Spring 2007

The Commission rounds out its membership and meets seven times during the semester.
With input from the Commission, President Hynes issues a Request for Proposals (RFP) for an external climate audit focusing on issues of race, gender, and ethnic diversity.
The Commission conducts an inventory of all initiatives focusing on women at St. Norbert College. The Commission invites speakers from each College division to present information on gender climate data gathering efforts in those areas. The group also hears from representatives of the Division of Natural Sciences on its particular gender initiatives, as well from Dr. Matthew Stollak and Dr. Paul Schnorr on their research on SOOTS (Student Opinion on Teaching evaluations) and gender.
The College Advancement division administers an on-line survey for its employees on gender climate.
The Commission researches Commissions on Women and gender initiatives at other institutions of higher education.

Fall 2007

President Hynes names improving the climate for women one of his top goals for his final year as president of St. Norbert College.
The Commission reconvenes for 2007-2008 with Sarah Griffiths, Director of International Student and Scholar Services, as chair and Dr. Mary Oling-Sisay, the College’s Vice President for Student Life, as a new member.