Commission on the Status of Women Listening Session
March 14, 2012
11 panelists
24 in attendance
Becky Drout facilitated
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Introduction of Panelists: Listed in Slide Presentation
QUESTION: What is the Commission on the Status of Women (CWS) working on?
o Last year we recommended to the Chancellor a Limited Term Employees (L.T.E.) proposal
which resulted in approximately 72 female LTEs pay increase above poverty level
o Work-Life balance issues
o Personnel Task Force – a letter was sent from CSW to Personnel Task Force and work
group leaders encouraging them to be mindful of women’s issues and pay equity as they
conducted their work
o Making sure there are adequate lactation rooms throughout campus
QUESTION: How often does CSW meet
o Once a month for an hour and a half
Panelist Susan Harrison: Shared her President of University Senate role:
o Serves as the University Senate campus liaison on women’s issues
o WHEEL—shared information about the spring conference
Panelist Donna Weber – Shared her Director of Human Resources role:
o QUESTION: Have we looked at salary/gender inequalities on campus?
o Donna: did a study a year ago
o Teresa: Her office does studies – would like to dig into the data more – problem with
retention of women vs. men
o Donna: In the last 20 years the gap base closed some but it is not where it needs to be
o ISSUE: We need to work on leave policies for faculty - time off for kids in relation to
impact on collegial coverage.
o The Board of Regents set structure but personnel task force is looking into “coming back
for partial duties”
o Don’t let each department make their own policy, equal in equities.
o Donna: Meet with Human Resources and they will work with you and department
o A student group in COB student conducted a gender equity study of COB organization
leadership positions
o The study showed men held the majority of the leadership positions and that popularity
was an issue in who was voted in
o The study showed women typically held secretary positions
o The study showed sexist professors existed in COB
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Panelist Phillip Rynish – Shared his role as President of Student Senate:
o QUESTION: How many female Student Senate presidents have there been? Two.
o They make an effort to be as gender equitable as possible in making committee
assignments
o The campus has a safe space which is run out of the Affirmative Action office and
students are in charge of it.
Panelist Teresa O’Halloran: talked about the recent Women’s & LGBTQ resource center merge
Panelists Abby Vercauteren & Chris Jorgenson – they do classroom presentations
o Reach approximately 2,000 students each year
o It was suggested they do safe space training
Panelist Dave Sprick—Shared what University Police are doing
o Recently added to their website: sexual assault prevention, relationship issues, stalking,
abusive relationships
o Lieutenant – attends sexual assault meetings at county
o Has two female officers out of 14 total officers
Panelist Amanda Leikness: Shared her role as Director of Victim Services
o CASA is federally funded
o University graciously houses the program but its services are available all to community
members
o Hours: M-Th 8:30-4:30
o Police & Nurses are trained – handle 24 hour hotline
o Has been in contact with approximately 80-100 people per year
o Approximately 75% of these people are from the campus community
o Of the 80-100 people, 75% are primary victims.
o 25% are secondary victims (family members, roommates)
o We are average compared to other campuses.
o CASA is a part of the whole Chippewa Valley team.
QUESTION: A faculty member who teaches a first year experience course – would like to know
what safety issues should women know about?
o Dave Sprick recommended she share the University Police website, which has a lot of
wonderful resources
o Contact Dave Sprick at University Police—he and his staff can make class presentations
QUESTION – how can we advertise all of these resources better?
o Dean of students site provides a lot of related links—however, most students don’t know
to go to the “Dean of Students”
o CASA does a lot of FYE presentations
o CSW has added a lot of related links to its website
o There some effort—but we should try to do better
o Panelist Chris recommended we create a “landing page” for “women”, “gay”
o It was recommended that CSW increase its efforts in promoting its website – let others
know about related links – get information out to faculty and staff
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o It was recommended that a repository be created to let others know what CSW is working
on
Panelist Barbara Kernan: Shared what the Women Studies Program offers:
o Coordinates with CASA & Women’s/LGBTQ Resource Center
o Amanda/CASA must be invited by faculty to come to class, she cannot initiate
o Abby – Women’s Resource Center offers a monthly presentation in housing
OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS:
o Review HR exit interview questions – are departing employees asked about equity issues
and whether lack of gender equity is why they are leaving
o CSW should do another campus-wide survey about gender equity and publish the results
o There should be a one stop shopping brochure for all students
o There should be free self-defense classes offered to employees
o Have any studies looked at competing salaries of males and females in the same position
on campus?
o Pay Equity
o i.e. Academic staff - females vs. males in a specific department >10 years
o i.e. Full pay – females vs. males in a specific department >5 years
o It sounds like there has been some work on this – where does one find such information