The President’s Commission on the Status of Women was established by President Walter Harrison in 2009. The original members, working with Lynn Pasquerella (Provost) and President Harrison, came up with “3 Big Questions” that they thought needed to be addressed. The questions focused on how faculty and staff experience gender at the University. Jane Horvath, Associate Professor of Economics and Senior Advisor to the President, was asked to join the Commission in 2011 when Provost Pasquerella left the University. She was tasked with assisting President Harrison who continued as Chair.
The major initiatives of the PCSW from 2001 to 2015 included a comprehensive examination of gender difference in the Promotion and Tenure process, a survey to learn how issues related to family were experienced by faculty and staff, and work on the early stages of the current Family Leave Policy.
In 2017, President Woodward asked Jane Horvath to Chair the Commission and provided it with its own budget. He also asked the Commission to write and adopt by-law to formalize its activities.
Today, the PCSW continues to be at the center of programing, policy, and research. After accomplishments and advancements on campus that include establishing all-gender bathrooms in all academic buildings and a mapping project to detail what positions women occupy in each unit on campus that offers insight in organizational culture, the PCSW has announced that the 2022 - 2023 PCSW agenda will focus on:
- Title IX. - women’s access to educational opportunities;
- Implications of the Supreme Court in the Dobbs Decision;
- Connecting more intentionally with students.
Amanda Freeman (Faculty -A&S)
Jane Horvath (Faculty – Chair)
Lisa Langsner (Staff – Jewish Life and Hillel)
Arlene Maddox (Staff – Center for Student Success)
Denise Marchese (Staff – Athletics)
Melinda Miceli (Faculty – Chair, Gender and Sexuality Studies Program)
Gilda Lyons (Faculty – HARTT)
Colleen Muñoz (Faculty- ENHP)
Fallon Roberson-Roby (Staff – Office of Student Engagement and Inclusion)
Karen Schermerhorn (Staff– A&S)
Lynn Thibodeau (Staff– Human Resources Development)
Shirley Wang (Faculty– Barney)
Charge:
The President’s Commission on the Status of Women is charged with providing leadership in advancing and advocating for gender equity and inclusion at the University of Hartford and representing the interests of women on campus.
The PCSW shall:
Review University policies, practices, and procedures and, when needed, propose changes to promote, support, and ensure gender equity and inclusion;
Provide leadership in advocating for initiatives and programming in support of gender equity and inclusion and elevating the status of women on campus;
Represent and advocate for the interests of women on campus;
Serve as a resource to the President and senior leadership in matters concerning gender equity and inclusion.
Committee:
The Commission will consist of faculty and staff, divided equally between the two;
Faculty members will include both tenured/tenure track and non-tenure track faculty;
Staff members will include both exempt and non-exempt staff;
Members will serve staggered 2 and 3-year terms, renewable;
HRD representative and Gender Studies Chair (or designated GS faculty member) will have permanent membership;
Members of the Commission are appointed by the President;
The Commission will meet monthly at an agreed upon standard time;
The Commission Chair will meet regularly with the President to update, review and provide an assessment of the Commission’s work.
Adopted in March 2020
Dear Members of the UHart Community,
Since the recent Supreme Court ruling in Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Care
Organization, many of us have been engaged in thought and discussion about the
impact of this decision. While the full effect is still unfolding and will be for some time, it
will bring profound changes to our society, regardless of where one resides.
As an institution of higher education, our mission is to educate students so that they
may realize their full potential and be well-equipped to contribute to the major issues
confronting our nation and the world. In this, we are guided by our University values
statement that reinforces our commitment to each other as individuals and as an
academic community.
As we prepare for the upcoming semester, several organizations and groups on campus
are actively planning opportunities for engagement and dialogue on this highly
sensitive topic and controversial ruling. These conversations are hard, the information
and opinions are vast, and it is our privilege to be at a place where people can safely
and respectfully debate, learn, grow, and share.
I have asked the President’s Commission on the Status of Women (PCSW) to explore
the implications this decision may have for our students, faculty, and staff. We support
every individual's right to control one’s body and personal health care decisions,
including reproductive health care, and are grateful these rights remain safe and legal in
Connecticut. It is our responsibility to work together with others on campus to ensure
that we remain a community committed to gender equity in all forms.
If you have thoughts to share or want to engage with PCSW, please email myself or
Associate Professor and PCSW Chair Jane Horvath at horvath@hartford.edu to connect
to the committee.
Sincerely,
Greg Woodward