Smith College
PA-7: Support for Future Faculty Diversity

The Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship (MMUF) is designed to increase the number of underrepresented minorities in the faculty ranks of institutions of higher learning. There are MMUF programs at 81 colleges and universities around the country as well as international programs (in South Africa). Faculty/student mentoring relationships form the core of the MMUF program. Faculty mentors help to orient undergraduates towards the pursuit of a Ph.D. and a faculty career through two years of a close research relationship.

Smith is also involved in other programs to help the recruitment and retention of faculty from traditionally underrepresented groups. Programs include:

-Emerging Scholars hiring Program
-Faculty Career Development Research Grant
-Five College ""Diversity Day"" trainings
-Student Scholars Community

The Five Colleges Consortium also hosts a day called ""Diversity Day"" which promotes diversity among the 5 colleges.

In addition, Smith hosts difficult dialogue initiatives, new student outreach, and a diversity chair on House Council.

Smith finds importance in not only recruitment of faculty and staff of color, but their retention as well. This retention effort is made through dialogue and communications initiatives, community development, outreach, and other HR work.

The HERI evaluations cover overall employee satisfaction, overall college experience, diversity, balancing tradition and change, mentorship, engaging in discussions that are difficult, and communication channels. The results of these evaluations are used to improve programs and initiatives to increase satisfaction and overall experience of higher education faculty at the institution.