Women's Caucus
The University Women's Caucus
The University Women's Caucus, formed in 1974, is an organization of women whose concerns include actively advancing the welfare of women throughout Old Dominion University. Specifically, the caucus aids affirmative-action efforts to recruit and retain women and lobbies for equal treatment in salary, rank, tenure, promotion, research leave, and responsibilities. The caucus sponsors workshops and presentations on a wide variety of topics for personal and professional development and provides a forum to discuss policies and decisions affecting women on campus.
- Advocate for policies and practices that create and maintain a positive and equitable climate for women.
- Recognize and celebrate special contributions of women.
- Support campus services and programs that address the needs of women
- Support efforts to remove systemic barriers to the advancement of women and minorities
- Foster dialogue between the Caucus and the Administration
- Offer mentoring, networking opportunities and informative programs
- Increase access to quality childcare for University employees
- Assist in the identification and resolution of campus safety issues
- Promote equal opportunity and affirmative action in hiring, promotion and compensation
The University Women's Caucus, formed in 1974, is an organization of women whose concerns include actively advancing the welfare of women throughout Old Dominion University. Specifically, the caucus aids affirmative-action efforts to recruit and retain women and lobbies for equal treatment in salary, rank, tenure, promotion, research leave, and responsibilities. The caucus sponsors workshops and presentations on a wide variety of topics for personal and professional development and provides a forum to discuss policies and decisions affecting women on campus.
- Advocate for policies and practices that create and maintain a positive and equitable climate for women.
- Recognize and celebrate special contributions of women.
- Support campus services and programs that address the needs of women
- Support efforts to remove systemic barriers to the advancement of women and minorities
- Foster dialogue between the Caucus and the Administration
- Offer mentoring, networking opportunities and informative programs
- Increase access to quality childcare for University employees
- Assist in the identification and resolution of campus safety issues
- Promote equal opportunity and affirmative action in hiring, promotion and compensation
Committees
- Awards Committee: Responsible for soliciting award nominations; planning awards ceremony
- Assessment Committee: Create assessment measures, analyze data, share results, and create reports as needed
- Childcare Committee: Liaison with CLRC and parent organization; represent UWC interests regarding childcare
- Communications Committee: Responsible for outreach and messaging; manage UWC membership; recruit new members
- Education Committee: Responsible for planning and executing career success workshops
- History Committee: Collect UWC artifacts (e.g., photos, news stories), archive items in the shared drive, and share key items with the Perry Library archivist
- Programming Committee: Responsible for planning UWC events (Welcome Back Luncheon, Conversations with the President, etc.)
- Salary Equity Committee: Review salary data as part of Salary Equity Review process
Outreach/Connection Groups
The purpose of these groups is to provide spaces for women on campus to connect in smaller 'affinity' groups.
- FULLy Supported - FULLy Supported is a group of women Full Professors that provides a support network and sounding board for each other. We celebrate the successes in their teaching, research, administrative, and/or personal endeavors. Contact Wie Yusuf (jyusuf@abadiadetortoreos.com) or Holly Gaff (hgaff@abadiadetortoreos.com) for more information.
- International Women - connects international and global-minded women on our campus. Women across the university who are faculty and faculty administrators with similar interests and backgrounds get together informally to connect socially, professionally, and share local and international resources. Contact Anna Makhorkina (amakhork@abadiadetortoreos.com) for more information.
- Research Faculty (New)– a group of women research faculty that provides a support network and sounding board for each other as we navigate the successes and challenges of research positions outside of the tenure-track/tenure world. Contact Erika Frydenlund (efrydenl@abadiadetortoreos.com) for more information.
- SASS-Y (Solo Aging Support System - Why Not) - a group dedicated to building and maintaining communities of support for women as they age. We are committed to living life to its fullest by fostering physical, mental and emotional well-being as we prepare for, and navigate, the special difficulties that sometimes come as we age. Contact Carla Knox (cknox@abadiadetortoreos.com) for more information.
- Women Living with Disabilities - a group of women with disabilities and women supporting children, parents, or other family members with disabilities to share experiences, resources, and understanding. Individuals with disabilities and caregivers may encounter increased adversity in the workplace. This group is a place to be in solidarity, express yourself, and support each other. Contact Kristi Costello (kcostell@abadiadetortoreos.com) for more information.
- Women of Color - a community of black and brown women who meet to rejuvenate, empower, and exhale in a brave and safe space. Contact Nakia Madry-Smith (nmadry@abadiadetortoreos.com) or Shuntay Tarver (smccoy@abadiadetortoreos.com) for more information.
- Women Raising Children - an avenue for women to share resources, reflections, and be in community with other mothers who all share a common thread of working at ODU. Contact Emily Goodman-Scott (egscott@abadiadetortoreos.com) or Abby Braitman (abraitma@abadiadetortoreos.com) for more information.
Wo-Mentoring Program
The Women's Caucus is excited to present the Wo-Mentorship program here at Old Dominion University. One of the greatest successes of the Women's Caucus has been our ability to effect positive change at the University. We feel, however, that there is still much to be done in the way of outreach. One of the keys to success for any faculty member or faculty administrator is identifying a set of mentors. A good mentor provides support, advice and, sometimes, just a sympathetic ear. Whether you are looking for career advice or simply just to have coffee with someone who has been in your position before, this program will work for you. The Women's Caucus membership provides a source of amazing individuals who will serve as mentors at all levels and from all disciplines.
The program does not offer any formal requirements for Wo-Mentors or Wo-Mentees so the relationships can evolve naturally. Individuals at all levels are encouraged to participate. For example, an individual at the mid-level of her career may request both to mentor someone in her early career and to become a mentee of a more experienced member. Mentorship relationships of all kinds are encouraged. Current and former department chairs are also encouraged to sign up as mentors for new chairs.
If you would like to know more about this program, please contact Kristy Carlisle or Melanie Graham.
Career Success
The Women's Caucus offers a Career Success Workshops during the spring semester for lecturers, assistant professors, and associate professors. The provost, a college dean, and recently tenured and promoted faculty speak about the evaluation, tenure, and promotion processes and how to be successful; they also answer your questions. It is an invaluable tool and faculty who have attended say that they learn something new and important; many faculty return every year as a way to stay focused on their goals.