Dr. Healani Chang with her students from the ‘Ilima SACNAS Chapter at the University of Hawai‘i.

Dr. Frankie Zhu observing and taking notes during microgravity experiment, as seen in NASA press release.

Dr. Helen Janiszewski and colleagues conduct field work on Hawai‘i island.

Oceaonpraphy MS Candidate Caroline Jackson prepares the conductivity, temperature, and depth rosette for deployment on a Hawai‘i Ocean Time series research cruise.

Oceanography MS Candidate Caroline Jackson prepares the conductivity, temperature, and depth rosette for deployment on a Hawai‘i Ocean Time series research cruise.

Dr. Barb Bruno with students on SE O‘ahu geology fieldtrip.

Volcanologist Dr. Julia Hammer measuring the temperature of cinder erupted in 2018 about two weeks after the Kīlauea eruption ended.

Hailey Pantaleo collects water quality samples during field work in American Sāmoa in August, 2022.

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.edu. The survey is expected to take 15-20min.

Take the Survey!

Access the survey from your smart device via the following QR code:

ADVANCE Kaulike Team

Michael Bruno, Provost & Principal Investigator

Healani Chang, Co-Principal Investigator

Associate Specialist, Pacific Biosciences Research Center

Truc Nguyen, Co-Principal Investigator

Specialist, Curriculum Research & Development Group

Jennifer Griswold, Co-Principal Investigator

Associate Professor, Atmospheric Sciences

Frankie Zhu, Co-Principal Investigator

Assistant Researcher, HIGP

Stephanie Nohelani Teves, Lead Researcher

Associate Professor, Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies

Tom Shea, Lead Researcher

Assistant Researcher, Earth Sciences

Jenny Engels, Project Manager

Research Affiliate, HIGP

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.