Seattle University Advancing Equity and Diversity

With the help of a National Science Foundation (NSF) ADVANCE award, Seattle University is transforming its professoriate and culture by better supporting the recruitment, retention, evaluation and advancement of a more diverse faculty that reflects the campus community as a whole.  

“There is substantial evidence demonstrating that women and faculty of color engage in activities that directly benefit students, universities and communities, but these contributions are not easily captured in traditional measures of faculty success,” explains Professor Jodi O’Brien, PhD, who is also vice provost for faculty affairs. “Through our NSF ADVANCE award, SU has successfully reimagined faculty performance, introducing alternative models of evaluation and standards of promotion that recognize and reward a comprehensive and inclusive range of faculty activities.”

Due to that work, 27 women and faculty of color have been promoted to full professor since 2021. The integral work of recruiting, retaining and advancing more women and faculty of color began in 2016—first with an NSF ADVANCE Institutional Transformation grant—and has expanded with a recent NSF Partnership award in conjunction with two other Jesuit universities—Gonzaga and St. Louis.

“Traditional faculty advancement has given precedence to research productivity and publication records, inadvertently creating disadvantages for faculty members from underrepresented backgrounds who often face systemic barriers,” explains Professor Colette Taylor, PhD, who is also special assistant to the provost for strategic directions. In addition to evaluating faculty by traditional methods, SU is now giving equal importance to student success, public engagement, community-engaged scholarship, applied scholarship, student-faculty research and institution building.

The success of Seattle University in this endeavor has drawn the attention of other universities looking to make similar progress in bringing equity and better student outcomes to their institutions.

For example, Dr. Taylor will facilitate a two-day Washington State University conference in Spokane that will showcase the adaptations necessary to support and sustain deep institutional transformation.

“Seattle University's dedication to reevaluating these criteria has facilitated a more profound alignment with its mission,” says Dr. Taylor. “By recognizing and promoting faculty members more comprehensively, Seattle University has embarked on a transformative journey within its academic community.”

For media inquiries, contact Lincoln Vander Veen at vanderv1@seattleu.edu or 425-830-2448.

Learn more about SU ADVANCE.

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