Lincoln (Neb.) - Oct. 13, 1998 - After investigating the climate for women in the political science department at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, an ad hoc committee appointed by Chancellor James Moeser found no hard evidence of gender inequity in the department.
In addition, the ad hoc committee rejected an earlier recommendation from a panel of the Academic Rights and Responsibilities Committee to place the department in receivership. That would have meant placing the department under the leadership of an outside administrator. The committee did, however, make seven recommendations to improve the climate for women in the department.
Moeser named the three-person ad hoc committee to review the department's climate after allegations surfaced last spring that the department tolerates gender discrimination. Moeser has repeatedly called for a tolerant and civil campus climate and said he is committed to building a more hospitable environment at the university.
The group based its recommendations, in part, on a survey last summer of faculty, staff and graduate students in the department. The committee reported the survey results show that "a vast majority of respondents did not identify problems with gender-related differential treatment in the department." However, the committee noted some issues that warranted recommendations to improve the climate for women in the department. The recommendations as worded in the report follow:
1. The department needs to continue to work very hard to
recruit more women (faculty).
2. Training on university policies and procedures for the
appropriate methods of responding to claims of gender bias
or sexual harassment and general departmental dispute
resolution should be provided by the Affirmative Action
Office or an outside consultant to the department chair. The
faculty will then have primary responsibility for providing
training to its graduate students.
3. The department should utilize its internal document,
"The Department Structures Statement," in orientations with
graduate students to communicate its policy against gender
bias or discrimination.
4. The department should be allowed to continue its
practice of inquiring of a complainant what remedy is
desired. However, the total burden should not be placed on
the complainant to determine the appropriate action, and the
department should be sure to follow up with the complainant.
5. The department should be allowed to continue its
Committee on Departmental Relations in a version consistent
with university policies as an option for individuals to
present claims of sexual harassment or gender bias. However,
it should be clearly communicated to students and faculty
that there are other options available, such as a report
made directly to the chair or a report to the Affirmative
Action Office.
6. The department should enforce its policy of requiring
that all postings (e.g., on bulletin boards) be signed and
dated. Inappropriate postings should be the subject of
discussions with the offender specifically and the
department generally.
7. The department should develop practices that
demonstrate its sensitivity to the social needs of faculty
and graduate students who do not fit the departmental norm -
the non-funded graduate students, women and those with
varied interests and backgrounds.
The committee report and recommendations have been accepted by Moeser, who will report to the chair of the ARRC and the president of the Academic Senate. Moeser said he is pleased with the committee's investigation.
"From my perspective, this report is one of the most
scholarly and thorough reviews of such a situation I've ever
examined," he said. Moeser added that further details about
the report won't be released to maintain confidentiality in
personnel issues.
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