2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

This evidence-based practice paper describes the development and implementation of an interactive workshop for department chairs focused on strategies to foster inclusive department climates at the University of X (UX). Literature on the underrepresentation of women in STEM suggests climate is a key factor in women faculty’s lower levels of job satisfaction and higher rates of turnover. Building on this scholarship, multiple research projects at UX motivate the need for institutional efforts to improve climate and the central role of department chairs in fostering inclusive climates. For instance, faculty climate surveys reveal relatively low levels of faculty satisfaction with department collegiality, and that effective chair leadership directly shapes job satisfaction for women faculty. A mixed-methods project on faculty retention demonstrates disproportionately high levels of turnover for women faculty of color, with respondents citing department climate as a key factor in their decision to leave the university. In this paper, we outline the research that led to the development of the workshop, detailing how research findings inform specific workshop content, including case studies. We discuss workshop structure, including the decision to offer the workshop by college/unit within UX, allowing us to bring together small groups of chairs for facilitated discussion and the sharing of experiences. We also address the role of deans in securing institutional commitment for the project, as well as initial evaluation results and plans for long-term evaluation. Finally, we highlight follow-up efforts to develop and disseminate new resources on fostering inclusive department climates, including a written guide that builds off strategies that emerged during workshop discussion, encouraging department chairs to learn from the experiences of colleagues across the university. Preferred presentation method: Traditional lecture