By Martha S. West To be effective agents for change on campus, women faculty must work together. Women gain power through collective action, allowing them to overcome the frustration and isolation they often experience on campus. Organizing faculty is, however, difficult, and women faculty are no exception.
Organizational efforts can take many forms.
The challenge is to find the right form for the issue at hand. For example, many campuses have established committees on the status of women under the auspices of the campus administration. Administration committees have certain advantages, such as some budget and staff support, which makes it easier to sustain these kinds of committees over a long period of time. My experience on our campus committee has been disappointing. Our recommendations on faculty issues are rarely taken seriously and are seldom implemented, particularly if they require any substantial cost or change in the way the university traditionally goes about its business.