ADVANCE Catalyst: Advancing kaulike (equity) focusing on STEM intersectional experiences at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
As the flagship campus of a 10-campus system, the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa seeks to better understand the experiences of nā wāhine (women) who identify as academic professionals in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM), in particular women from Native Hawaiian, Filipino and other underrepresented groups. In Fall 2020, UHM’s women were more than 50% of the student population, but less than 34% of the STEM faculty population. These numbers are further reduced for women STEM professionals with intersecting underrepresented identities.
With the aim of increasing the number of underrepresented, wāhine faculty in the STEM fields, the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa is beginning a new ADVANCE Catalyst project funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). NSF’s ADVANCE Catalyst track is designed to undertake data collection and institutional self-assessment work to identify systemic gender inequities impacting their STEM faculty so that these can be addressed by the institution.
As a result of this work, we will provide UHM with strategic plans for increasing the number of underrepresented, wāhine faculty in the STEM fields through modified recruitment, retention, and promotion practices, such as revamping the UHM Tenure and Promotion process, mentoring, and creating pathways to hiring UHM graduates into faculty positions. We take a feminist, intersectional approach to examine women’s experiences in STEM professions, while centering islandness and indigeneity. We use “women” to be inclusive of all who identify as women.
Planned Activities
- Conduct an institutional self-assessment to investigate supports and barriers to advancements of women faculty in STEM;
- Pilot activities to develop an organizational change strategy that brings equity for women into UHM’s tenure and promotion processes;
- Develop a five-year STEM faculty equity plan in partnership with the Native Hawaiian Place of Learning Advancement Office and other diversity, equity, and inclusion leaders at UHM.
This work is supported by the National Science Foundation ADVANCE Program Award Number: 2200748.
FOCUS GROUPS OPEN!
UH Mānoa ADVANCE Kaulike Focus Groups
Aloha graduate students, staff, postdocs, and faculty,
We encourage you to share your voice about supports and mentorship that you have received during your academic careers at UH Mānoa and how the policies and practices of UH Mānoa are informative and helpful or might need some updating.
Those interested can sign up for a session at http://go.hawaii.edu/Pc7. Since this is a research study, there is a consent form if you volunteer to participate. A minimum of three people is needed for a session to run, so we’ll confirm with you as soon as possible if a session you chose is canceled.
GRADUATE STUDENTS
- Fri, Feb 3, 8:00am–9:30am ONLINE
- Wed, Feb 8, 3:00 pm–4:30 pm IN PERSON
- Wed, Feb 8, 3:00 pm–4:30 pm IN PERSON
- Thu, Feb 9, 10:30 am–12:00 pm IN PERSON
- Tue, Feb 14, 10:00 am–11:30 am ONLINE
- Wed, Feb 15, 3:00 pm–4:30 pm ONLINE
STAFF (APT & RCUH & CIVIL SERVICE)
- Mon, Feb 6, 12:00 pm–1:30 pm IN PERSON
- Thu, Feb 9, 8:30 am–10:00 am IN PERSON
- Thu, Feb 14, 12:00 pm–1:30 pm ONLINE
- Thu, Feb 16, 3:00 pm–4:30 pm ONLINE
FACULTY
- Friday, Feb 3, 12:00 pm–1:30 pm ONLINE
Mon, Feb 6 8:00 am–9:30 am IN PERSON - Thu, Feb 9, 2:30 pm–4:00 pm IN PERSON
- Mon, Feb 13, 8:00 am–9:30 am ONLINE
- Wed, Feb 15, 12:00 pm–1:30 pm ONLINE
- Thu, Feb 16, 8:30 am–10:00 am ONLINE
ANYONE – MIXED GROUP
- Fri, Feb 17, 8:00 am–9:30 am MIXED GROUP, ONLINE
- Fri, Feb 17, 12:00 pm–1:30 pm MIXED GROUP, ONLINE
- Fri, Feb 17, 3:00 pm–4:30 pm MIXED GROUP, ONLINE
EXECUTIVE / MANAGERIAL
- Tue, Feb 28, 10:00 am–11:30 am, ONLINE
- Thu, Mar 2, 2:30 pm–4:00 pm, ONLINE
- Mon, Mar 6, 12:00 pm–1:30 pm, ONLINE
SURVEY ANNOUNCEMENT!
UH Mānoa ADVANCE Kaulike Survey
Aloha students, staff, postdocs and faculty,
We are launching a data collection survey to help us better understand the state of our STEM workforce and workplace climate. If you would like to know more, review the short introductory video below or email us at UHM-ADVANCE@lists.hawaii.
Access the survey from your smart device via the following QR code:

ADVANCE Kaulike Team
Resources
- UH Hilo and Community Colleges ADVANCE program: Building Relationships to Increase Diversity and Gender Equity (BRIDGE).
- Curated ADVANCE resource library, online community, meetings, and virtual programs: ARC Network.