The U-M has graduated its first group of Incentive Scholars and only one left the program, transferring to another university. The majority of the young students were women. One of the roles of my office is nurturinghelping junior faculty get started, helping senior faculty change fields, helping anyone who finds it difficult to secure external support. If we can find the appropriate person, we can move immediately. The unit has appointed 11 faculty of color over the past few years and hopes to appoint eight more in the next two or three years.
Attitudes have to change.
We hire only those who we believe will succeed here. The tenure and reward system. Demonstrated interest and support by the chair, faculty and students during the recruitment process. Competitive starter packages with respect to salary, equipment and laboratory space, as well as careful attention to gender equity in salaries. Flexible expectations with respect to teaching loads the first two years, with senior faculty helping new faculty develop their courses.