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III. Findings and Recommendations of
the Task Force
E. Integrated Findings and Recommendations of the
Task Force
During its deliberative process, the Task Force noted the
need to make a series of findings and recommendations that
flowed from the entire, integrated experience of examining
issues of gender equity at the University.
- Task Force Finding: The data describe a faculty
population in which women are younger, less senior in
both years and rank, have lower numbers of scholarly
publications and lower salaries. These differences
reflect an academic environment in which participation by
women has been increasing relative to men in recent
decades.
Rationale: The Task Force determined that it was
important to describe the demographics of the faculty
population at the University.
- Task Force Finding: The Task Force acknowledges that
it was unable sufficiently to explore turnover rates by
academic unit because these data do not exist.
Rationale: The possibility that Marquette has experienced
a disproportionately high turnover rate among women
faculty, at least in some academic units, was one of the
concerns that gave rise to establishment of the Task
Force on Gender Equity.
Task Force Recommendation: Under the direction of the
Executive Vice-President, the University should
systematically collect turnover data on all tenure-track
faculty by academic unit/department. Data on all
voluntary separations of tenure-track faculty should be
recorded annually. In addition, faculty exit interviews
should be conducted to ascertain the reasons why faculty
leave Marquette.
- Task Force Finding: Gender Equity is a component of
the Jesuit Educational Apostolate.
Rationale: During its investigation the Task Force
benefited significantly from the guiding principles
enunciated in Decree 14 of the 34th General Congregation
of the Society of Jesus. Under the direction of Jesuit
colleagues, the Task Force developed an appreciation of
the relevance of Decree 14 to its charge. The Task Force
finds that promoting gender equity is central to the
University's mission and identity as a Jesuit
institution. Jesuit traditions as expressed in Decree 14
require more than compliance with legal proscriptions
against sex discrimination. Rather, they require strong
reactions against continuing discrimination and prejudice
against women and urgent steps that translate into
equitable practices the theory that men and women are
created equal in the sight of God.
- Task Force Recommendation: Conversations on Gender
Equity
Rationale: The Task Force recommends that the President
of the University charge his Office of Mission and
Identity to conduct a series of conversations with
faculty and administrators. These conversations should
encourage personal reflection about the implications of
Decree 14 for accomplishing the University's Mission of
strongly reacting to sex discrimination and prejudice and
urgently translating into equitable practices the theory
that men and women are created equal in the sight of
God.
- Task Force Finding: Constituent Interest in Task
Force Report
Rationale: Faculty, administrators, staff, and other
members of the Marquette University community have
expressed to various members of the Task Force an
interest in reading the Report of the Task Force on
Gender Equity. The Report of the Task Force is based on
the analyses of information and data, much of which was
collected from faculty, administrators, and various
support staff at the University. Additionally, persons at
other Jesuit Institutions have expressed interest in
reading the Report of the Task Force on Gender
Equity.
- Task Force Recommendation: Dissemination of the Task
Force Report
Rationale: The Task Force recommends that, after review
by the President, the Executive Vice-President, and
General Counsel, the Report of the Task Force on Gender
Equity should be widely disseminated to interested
persons within the University. Written copies should be
on reserve in the Marquette libraries and in every
University department. The Report of the Task Force on
Gender Equity should be made available to all interested
persons by placing the Report prominently on the
University's Web Site.
- Task Force Finding: Need for an Implementation Task
Force on Gender Equity
Rationale: Currently there exists a good deal of
skepticism that anything will ever come from the
Task Force efforts. Findings and recommendations of the
Task Force establish that the promotion of gender equity
requires that administrators at various levels undertake
extensive reviews and implement, where appropriate,
changes to departmental and academic units' policies,
procedures, and practices.
- Task Force Recommendation: Creation of an
Implementation Task Force on Gender
Equity
Rationale: To further demonstrate the University's
commitment to its mission, the Task Force recommends that
the President establish a Task Force to Implement the
Report of the Task Force on Gender Equity. The
Implementation Task Force should be comprised of faculty
and administrators and should specifically be charged to
ensure that responsible parties at the University carry
out the recommendations of the Task Force. The
Implementation Task Force should be convened by May, 2001
and announced at the Pere Marquette Dinner. The
Implementation Task Force should provide regular reports
to the President setting forth the progress achieved
towards addressing any inappropriate gender inequities,
and preventing the occurrences of further inequities.
Those reports should also be shared with the University
community.
- Task Force Finding: Task Force on Gender Equity to
Address the Concerns of Support Staff and Administrators,
and Some Comparable Body to Address the Concerns of
Students
Rationale: Based on reports from other constituencies at
the University, the Task Force finds that students,
staff, and administrators also have gender equity
concerns.
- Task Force Recommendation: Establish a Task Force on
Gender Equity for Staff, Administrators, and Some
Comparable Body for Students
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Marquette
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