Dean Flier discussed the meeting agenda, which focused on several faculty issues: the annual report from the Joint Committee on the Status of Women (JCSW), the annual report from the Harvard Medical School (HMS) Ombuds Office and a report from the Office of Faculty Affairs (OFA) highlighting trends in appointments and promotions across the faculty.
Dean Flier introduced Tina Young Poussaint, Faculty Council vice-chair, who announced the call for nominations for next year’s Faculty Council vice-chair. She encouraged those who have one or two years remaining in their terms to stand for election for the position.
Dean Flier introduced Ingrid Katz, JCSW faculty co-chair and assistant professor of medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
Katz briefly reviewed the history of the JCSW, which was established in 1973 as a standing committee of the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine to represent faculty, fellows, residents, post docs, students and staff of HMS, Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM) and affiliated hospitals and institutions. She discussed the mission of the JCSW, which is to facilitate and enhance the contribution of women faculty and staff by expanding and enhancing opportunities for leadership and advancement. The JCSW was founded to identify and document obstacles; develop educational programs and networking events; and make recommendations to the Dean and relevant HMS leaders to address areas for improvement. The JCSW also sponsors the Joseph B. Martin Dean’s Leadership Awards for the Advancement of Women Faculty and Staff.
Katz spoke about JCSW membership and noted that eligibility is open to all HMS/HSDM faculty, staff, research and clinical fellows and students and that application is by self-nomination. She displayed a breakdown of membership by institution and by role and noted that membership is gradually increasing.
Katz reported that the development of the JCSW strategic plan attempted to define the committee’s aspirational goals. She said that the primary goal is to develop an active partnership that extends the reach of the JCSW across the community, to actively improve salary equity, work life and promotion of women. Katz then asked for feedback and a general discussion followed.
Dean Flier introduced Melissa Brodrick to give the annual report for the Ombuds Office. Brodrick shared activity summaries and statistics from the past academic year. She gave a brief overview of the role of the Ombuds Office as a highly confidential, independent and informal forum in which any faculty, staff, student or trainee may raise concerns that may be affecting his or her work or studies. As a neutral party, Brodrick said that she helps visitors clarify their issues and goals and consider their options as they make choices for themselves about potential next steps.
Brodrick then provided the general demographics of those visiting the Ombuds Office and the kinds of issues that are self-reported. The most frequently self-reported issues were as follows: work and academic environment (peer relationships, supervisor/supervisee relationship, leadership, departmental functioning, physical conditions, workload); career management (performance, evaluation, future prospects, departure, references); fair treatment; and research (authorship, proprietorship, conflict of interest, professional misconduct).
Brodrick noted that the Ombuds Office saw more women than men and more faculty members than students and staff.
A general discussion followed.
Next, Dean Flier introduced Maureen Connelly, dean for faculty affairs.
Connelly discussed faculty demographics, promotions and related polices. She displayed data for faculty growth at HMS and HSDM from 1980 to February 2016. Faculty growth decreased slightly for part-time and full-time faculty during the period. The growth in percentage of women with full-time faculty by rank continued to increase at all levels (instructor/lecturer, assistant professor, association professor, professor). The same trend was also seen for minority full-time faculty classified as under represented minorities.
Regarding the distribution of promotions and appointments by demographics, Connelly presented following two slides illustrating the distribution by race/ethnicity and gender and also by criteria:
Next, Connelly discussed faculty policies addressing the following part-time faculty and titles:
1. Member of the Faculty—title for one year while going through the process
2. Corresponding Member of the Faculty—retiring at rank below full professor
3. Professor in Residence—5-year term
Connelly reported that the Office of Faculty Affairs is communicating in writing to all part-time faculty regarding to the annual appointment policy. She noted that the updated faculty handbook is expected to launch in March 2016.
Dean Flier adjourned the meeting at 5:30 p.m.
