HARVARD GAZETTE ARCHIVES

Radcliffe Institute Dean Drew Gilpin Faust (from left), Evelynn Hammonds, professor of the history of science and of African and African-American studies, and Higgins Professor of Natural Sciences Barbara J. Grosz. (Staff photo Kris Snibbe/Harvard News Office)

Emphasizing the need for prompt but sustained action by the University, the Task Forces propose a series of reforms and enhancements to the way women pursuing science and engineering are treated at every point along the "pipeline," from undergraduates to graduate students to postdoctoral fellows to the faculty ranks. In addition, they propose various measures to enhance the diversity of the faculty ranks at Harvard across all fields and to improve the climate and prospects for faculty once on campus. A centerpiece of the recommendations is the appointment of a senior vice provost for diversity and faculty development - a new position to be created in the University's central administration to oversee faculty appointments processes, with a particular charge to increase the representation of women and other underrepresented groups within Harvard.

"At the outset of this effort, I stated that this was a moment of great opportunity for Harvard," said Radcliffe Institute Dean Drew Gilpin Faust, who was asked by Harvard President Lawrence H. Summers to join with Provost Steven E. Hyman in leading the Task Force efforts. "The Task Forces have produced recommendations that promise to transform not only opportunities for women and underrepresented minorities at Harvard, but the culture of the entire University community. It is important to recognize that the issues addressed in these reports are deep-seated, and progress will require continuing attention and sustained commitment for many years to come."

"These recommendations will receive our most careful consideration," said Summers. "Because they address fundamental issues about the way we conduct our core academic business, they have the power to make Harvard not only more welcoming and diverse, but a stronger and more excellent university overall. We will begin immediately to implement certain of the proposals that are fully developed and to explore those that require further analysis.

"In recognition of the importance and far-reaching nature of these recommendations, the University will commit $50 million over the next decade to support the proposed initiatives," Summers continued. "Meanwhile, we will conduct the feasibility and cost analyses that will enable us to further shape and implement the proposals. There is no doubt that these initiatives will require significant additional expenditures. But I want to make clear at the outset that this is a serious effort calling for a serious commitment of resources."

Senior Fellow of the Harvard Corporation, James R. Houghton, echoed Summers' support for the Task Force efforts: "Harvard is strongly committed to enhancing opportunities for women and underrepresented minorities, and these recommendations will help the University take major steps toward that crucial goal, in ways that strengthen both our academic enterprise and our sense of community. With my colleagues on the corporation, I want to thank the Task Force members, and everyone else involved, for all they have done to advance this important effort and for the many constructive ideas set forth in the reports."

Task Force on Women Faculty

The Task Force on Women Faculty was chaired by Evelynn Hammonds, professor of history of science and of African and African-American studies in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, and included members from every Faculty within the University. It was charged with making recommendations for a series of institutional measures to strengthen the recruitment, support, and advancement of outstanding women faculty in the University. Key recommendations include: