For Immediate Release: December 2, 2016
Environmental and social barriers—including stereotypes, gender bias, and the climate of colleges and universities—continue to block women’s participation and progress in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). These factors exacerbate the country’s critical economic need to fully engage women in STEM fields. Increasing America’s competitiveness requires reducing barriers that deter women and underrepresented minorities from pursuing academic and career goals in STEM fields.
– Title IX compliance reviews must be conducted.
– Provide guidance to universities to help them identify any cultural and institutional barriers limiting the recruitment, retention, and achievement of women and minorities in academic and government STEM research careers, and to develop and implement current best practices for reducing such barriers.