Lawrence University
PA-7: Support for Future Faculty Diversity

We belong to the Consortium for Faculty Diversity, which is a program designed to encourage the hiring of teaching fellows from underrepresented groups and increase the diversity of university faculty. We have a membership with ASIANetwork and Midstates consortium for Math and Science (MCMS). Also Monticello grants (women in science) and WiscAMP (minority participation in stem disciplines). Additionally, we participate in the McNair Scholars program, which, according to their website, is "designed to prepare undergraduate students for doctoral studies through involvement in research and other scholarly activities. McNair participants are either first-generation college students with financial need, or members of a group that is traditionally underrepresented in graduate education and have demonstrated strong academic potential. The goal of the McNair Scholars Program is to increase graduate degree awards for students from underrepresented segments of society." The President's Committee on Diversity Affairs (PCDA) implemented faculty and staff hiring practices with attention to diversity and inclusion at each step of the search process. For all tenure-track faculty hiring, each search committee includes a designated Diversity Point Person tasked with ensuring that a diverse pool of candidates is achieved and that the evaluation of applicants proceeds with minimal bias. All candidates are invited to address in their application materials and interviews how they will cultivate and support diversity and inclusion on the Lawrence campus. Search chairs and Diversity Point People meet with the Dean of Faculty several times throughout the search process. Representatives of the PCDA conduct interviews with each on-campus finalist. The PCDA has been involved in these new hiring practices with every tenure-track search and some staff searches since fall 2014. In 2015, the PCDA planned a workshop on diversity and hiring. In 2015, the PCDA planned a workshop led by Eve Fine of UW Madison on the topic of diversity and hiring, which was open to all faculty and to heads of staff offices.