Between 1989 and 2015, the President’s Advisory Commission on Women’s Issues (PACWI) provided recommendations to University leaders on a wide range of issues affecting women students, faculty and staff. The objective of the Commission was to help women achieve full and equal participation in all aspects of life and leadership at the University of Michigan. PACWI promoted the development of new policies, practices, and procedures designed to enhance gender and racial equity.
In April 2015, many units at U-M began restructuring various roles and initiatives in order to advance the University’s commitment to diversity and inclusion. Toward that end, the Center for the Education of Women decided to focus more of its efforts and resources on the success of nontraditional and underserved student populations. As part of that decision, CEW decided to no longer coordinate and staff PACWI. No alternative staffing model for the Commision was provided.
In Fall 2015, President Schlissel and Vice Provost for Equity, Inclusion and Academic Affairs Robert Sellers initiated the process to develop a campus-wide, school-by-school plan to improve Diversity, Equity and Inclusion on the Ann Arbor campus. By the Fall of 2016, new DEI initiatives, measurements and forms of accountability were shared publicly in the University’s five-year strategic DEI Plan. If you have an interest in acting as a campus advocate related to racial/ethnic, gender and other forms of diversity and inclusion, please contact [email protected] or 734-764-3982 about possible opportunities to lend your support. PACWI has played a vital role at U-M and its energies and ideas will continue to be realized through a new generation of leaders and members of the University community working to implement their local DEI plans.
The tremendous accomplishments of PACWI since its inception in 1989 are numerous and something for which members over the years can all be proud. At its final meeting on Friday, April 17th 2015, PACWI members reviewed major accomplishments of the Commission and celebrated those successes with a reception. In attendance were students, staff, faculty and postdoc PACWI members from across the decades. Many lively reflections were shared as members recounted victories achieved and the work yet to be done.
The PACWI Accomplishments presentation, including speaker notes, can be downloaded here.