PR Newswire
By Eos Foundation
September 27, 208
The first-ever statewide ranking of Massachusetts’ higher education institutions based on women in positions of power reveals a significant lack of gender parity, especially at the state public higher education system and large private universities, according to a study released today by the Eos Foundation. The report, Women’s Power Gap in Higher Education, draws from research Eos commissioned from the UMass Boston Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy and ranks 93 Massachusetts colleges and universities. Schools’ composite scores are calculated by women holding influential positions at their institutions, including president, senior leadership, and the governing board. The data reflects the leadership as of the school year that ended June 30, 2018.
“While women comprise 57% of all college and university students in the state, only 31 percent of the presidents and chancellors of these school are women. The data shows we need thoughtful and concerted action to close the women’s power gap,” said Andrea Silbert, president of the Eos Foundation, who launched the Women’s Power Gap Initiative.
“Our report is meant to create a benchmark and also help provide a roadmap for heading in the right direction toward gender parity,” said Silbert. “We know the potential and will are there to close the gap. We believe gathering the data and giving it a platform are important steps toward progress as we discuss concrete steps to bring change.”
