A new report has found that many of America’s top research universities prefer to seat men in leadership positions, resulting in a continuing gender gap that extends to campus presidencies.
Forbes reports that the Eos Foundation, in partnership with the American Association of University Women, released the investigative report, “Women’s Power Gap at Elite Universities, Scaling the Ivory Tower” through its Women’s Power Gap Initiative.
It found that out of 130 public and private universities with an R1 Carnegie Classification, only 22 percent have women presidents, chancellors, or system heads. The data are surprising since women have earned more doctoral degrees than men for the last 12 years.
The study also noted that while six universities have had at least three female presidents since their foundation, 60 universities have had none at all. The situation for women of color is even direr, as only 5 percent occupy a top executive position at these institutions.
Female College Presidents
The higher you climb the administrative ladder, the fewer women you see. According to the report, women comprise 39 percent of academic deans and 38 percent of provosts. However, only 22 percent and 10 percent of campus and university system presidencies are occupied by women.
Further highlighting the gender gap, around 26 percent of men achieved a presidency without first becoming a provost or academic dean. However, only 7 percent of women were able to do the same.
The study included a list of top research universities with the best track record in hiring, appointing, and promoting women into positions of power.
Based on gender scores, the University of California, Santa Cruz takes the top spot. It is followed by the City University of New York Graduate School, University of New Hampshire, and University of Iowa.
These institutions all have had three female presidents.