Press Release
CONTACT: Debra Humphreys
(202) 387-3760
E-mail: humphreys@aacu.org
Gretchen Wright
(202) 371-1999
New Online Newsletter on Women in Higher Education
Addresses Triumphs of Title IX, Challenges to Landmark Law
Washington, DC—March 11, 2003—At a time when the Bush administration is questioning Title IX, a new online newsletter is exploring the profound affect this federal law has had on women and girls over the last 30 years and the work that still needs to be done to advance gender equity. Published by the Association of American Colleges and Universities, On Campus with Women is now an online quarterly publication. Its first issue provides a historical overview of the battle to pass Title IX, examines Title IX's influence on the lives of individuals, and explores how campuses across the country have altered their policies and practices as a result of the law.
On Campus with Women also provides readers with: interesting and provocative perspectives from leading women in higher education; innovations in curriculum, campus policies and climate issues affecting women; updates on new studies and ongoing research into women's issues; descriptions of and links to innovative, informative and interesting web sites; reviews of new and thought-provoking books on women; and news on important international developments affecting women's rights and women's equality.
"Title IX and On Campus with Women are almost the same age," said Bernice Sandler, who founded AAC&U's Program for the Status and Education of Women in 1971 and is one of the nation's leading experts on Title IX. "It's particularly fitting that the first issues of the online version will explore Title IX, the legislation that has helped women on campus -- whether students, faculty or administrators -- succeed and excel. Yet there is still much more work to do. With On Campus with Women now online and available to anyone with Internet access, it will reach and help a much larger audience." Dr. Sandler was a driving force behind the passage of Title IX and is now a Senior Scholar at Women's Research Education Institute, where she works with colleges and universities concerning women's equity.
The first online issue of On Campus with Women features a first-person account by Dr. Sandler of her experience working on the campaign to end sex discrimination in higher education - a campaign that culminated in passage of Title IX of the Education Amendments. The issue also contains a report on the Arab Women's Summit held in Amman, Jordan and data from the new report on women in higher education by the National Coalition for Women and Girls in Education.
The March issue of On Campus with Women will examine the latest efforts to undermine Title IX in the context of other assaults on civil rights legislation, provide an analysis of the recommendations for Title IX by the Commission on Opportunity in Athletics, share information about campus-based programs to improve gender equity, like the Virginia Women's Institute for Leadership at Mary Baldwin College, and provide links to several new pro-Title IX web sites. The newsletter's Global Watch section will describe the innovative Effat College for Women in Saudi Arabia.
"The online On Campus with Women has an entirely new format that is more flexible and provides easier access to additional information on and resources for women in higher education," said Caryn McTighe Musil, Director of AAC&U's Program on the Status and Education of Women, which produces On Campus with Women. "Our goal is to dramatically increase the network of women and men on campuses who are working to achieve full educational equity for women in the academy."
On Campus with Women also provides a link to "Campus Women Lead" (www.campuswomenlead.org), the web site of the National Initiative for Women in Higher Education (NIWHE). Housed at AAC&U, NIWHE is a grassroots alliance seeking to improve women's status and the climate for women in higher education. The web site features information and resources on Leadership, Teaching/Learning/Research, Work/Life, Campus/Community Connections, and Women's Networks.
AAC&U is the leading national association devoted to advancing and strengthening liberal learning for all students, regardless of academic specialization or intended career. Since its founding in 1915, AAC&U's membership has grown to more than 1000 accredited public and private colleges and universities of every type and size.
AAC&U functions as a catalyst and facilitator, forging links among presidents, administrators, and faculty members who are engaged in institutional and curricular planning. Its mission is to reinforce the collective commitment to liberal education at both the national and local levels and to help individual institutions keep the quality of student learning at the core of their work as they evolve to meet new economic and social challenges.
Information about AAC&U membership, programs and publications can be found at www.aacu.org.
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