Call for Mines Advocates for Gender Equity Applications
Application Deadline: May 2, 2022

Mines Advocates is a group of Orediggers who are committed to supporting women on campus. Advocates are active proponents of gender diversity and equality, which at Mines means increasing the number of women faculty, encouraging the hiring of and promotion of women to administrative and leadership positions, and ensuring the fair and equitable treatment of women at Mines within their units. Advocates foster dialogue with on campus through the Allies for Gender Equity workshop, adapted from the nationally recognized program at North Dakota State University. Advocates must be open to being mentored on issues like implicit bias, institutional bias and institutional climate by women faculty members, including women in untenured Assistant Professor, Administrative Faculty and Classified Staff positions. Preference will be given to faculty, tenured or senior teaching faculty, and mid to senior-career employees, as Advocates may need to speak out, challenge departmental or university culture, and/or question administrators. 

Number of positions available: 4-5

Time Commitment:

  • Advocates can expect approximately 1 meeting per month in the fall to develop training materials, refine and participate in the semester Allies trainings. In the spring there will be additional Allies trainings as well as approximately two meetings to plan, and to meet with the Women’s Advisory Board.
  • Advocates can expect to meet with their mentors about twice a semester.
  • Advocates will be expected to host and/or facilitate at least one allies training per semester.

Duration: Minimum two years supporting workshops and mentoring other allies and advocates; but this is a lifetime commitment to serve as an advocate for gender equity in STEM.

Eligibility: The steering committee seeks representation from all campus units, but priority will be given to applicants who meet the stated requirements.

  • Have participated in an Allies for Gender Equity or other diversity, equity and inclusion workshop at Mines or off campus. 
  • Interested in being supportive of gender diversity and equity through committee work, teaching, research or informal actions within your department, college or the university. 
  • Awareness of the dynamics of institutional and structural bias and privilege. 
  • Interested in learning about issues of discrimination and privilege in the workplace. 
  • Individuals from underrepresented groups are especially encouraged to apply. 
  • Support from direct supervisor for the two-year active appointment and up to 1 year of mentoring. Contact diversity@mines.edu if you have concerns about securing your supervisor’s support. 
  • Motivated graduate students able to serve a 1 to 2 year term and help shape gender equity workshop material for a graduate student population.

Duties:

  • The Advocates group will identify a chair/co-chair to facilitate and coordinate activities of the group, liaise with Women’s Advisory Group, and develop Advocates accountability process.
  • Develop and facilitate short Allies for Gender Equity workshops on campus to promulgate Gender Equity at Mines—facilitate/support at least one per semester.
  • Participate in five (minimum) meeting/reading group sessions per year. Complete reading materials relevant to campus climate, equity and bias (including Mines Strategic Plan for DI&A, Annual Reports, Executive Summaries, campus climate and student survey reports).
  • Participate in and support DI&A-related events (at least one per semester: e.g. WISEM, Daniels Fund lecture series, safe zone, survivor response training, unit/dept DI&A committee, DI&A student groups).
  • Encourage or support assessment of gender dynamics and culture within your dept/unit.
  • Advocate for equitable treatment of women on campus.
  • With the Advocates group as a whole, and in consultation with the Women’s Advisory Board, identify additional opportunities for the Advocates to speak up and speak out.
  • Stay active in the Advocate/Allies program after your formal service as an Advocate.

Benefits:

  • Professional development
  • Network with other allies and Advocates
  • Lead institutional transformation: priceless

Contacts: Direct inquiries to diversity@mines.edu or Women’s Advisory Group Chair, Dr. Amy E. Landis amylandis@mines.edu.

Evaluation Rubric

  • Attended an Allies for Gender Equity workshop (1 pt)
  • Is a mid- to Senior level staff, mid to senior administrative faculty, tenured or senior teaching faculty, tenure-track male non-administrator (1 pt)
  • REASONS: Identify specific reasons why you would like to be an advocate and/or what inspired you to apply for the advocates program
    • 2 pts= Reasons are thoughtful and passionate
    • 1 pt= Reasons are thoughtful and/or passionate
    • 0 pts= Not exceptionally thoughtful or passionate
  • ISSUES: Identify specific issues & ideas you would like to address as a member of the advocates group address.
    • 3 pts= Thoughtful & aligns with DI&A Strategic Plan areas, and includes ideas & addresses relevant equity issues
    • 2 pts= Thoughtful & aligns with DI&A Strategic Plan areas
    • 1 pt= Thoughtful but missing ideas
    • 0 pts= Not exceptionally thoughtful and not a known equity issue
    • -2 pts= inaccurate or inappropriate topics/areas, likely to derail the group/program
  • PREVIOUS EFFORTS: Describe any of your previous efforts to support women on campus or in the community and/or engagement with DI&A related efforts. Provide specific examples.
    • 2 pts= meaningful & recent engagement. More than one activity
    • 1 pt= has some engagement (e.g. ~2-3 events or related efforts)
    • 0 pt= little to no meaningful engagement