University of Cincinnati’s Efforts to Increase the Number of Women Faculty

The University of Cincinnati has had success in its Strategic Hiring Initiatives, an effort that seeks to increase the number of women and underrepresented minorities on its faculty. Among the initiatives are the Dual Career Assistance Program, which provides both financial and personnel resources to assist spouses and partners of newly hired tenured and tenure-eligible faculty successfully transition to the Cincinnati community. The university helps newly hired faculty identify on and off campus employment opportunities for their spouses or partners with local universities, corporations, employment agencies, and/or other employment networks. This includes both faculty and staff appointments.

In addition to the Dual Career Assistance Program, the university has also made a significant effort to attract women faculty in STEM disciplines. The provost’s office has allocated $1,170,000 to the faculty diversification effort during the current fiscal year. And the Office of the President has allocated $800,000 over the next three years for the effort.

The University of Cincinnati reports that these efforts have been paying off. Some 22 new faculty members have been hired under the new initiatives. Over the past year the number of women and underrepresented faculty in STEM fields has tripled, according to Robin Martin, associate provost for special initiatives.

“The success of the program is only the beginning in the University of Cincinnati’s journey to attract and retain top talent,” Dr. Martin said. “By increasing the diversity of our faculty, we enhance both the academy and the student experience.”

Dr. Martin joined the staff at the University of Cincinnati in 2007. Previously, she served as director of athletics at Holy Names University in Oakland, California, and Dillard University in New Orleans. Dr. Martin holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of New Orleans. She earned a doctorate in urban educational leadership at the University of Cincinnati.