History

The History of the Association for Academic Women

Since its early beginnings, the Association for Academic Women (AAW) has been known for its rich history. What began as the Committee on the Status of Women, identifying, advocating for and increasing awareness of the needed changes in the University environment in order to enhance opportunities for women, evolved to become the Association for Academic Women (AAW). Today, the organization is dedicated to providing a forum for topics of interest to women, serving as an advisory group to the University Administration and supporting the professional development of faculty and administrative staff campus-wide.

Committee on the Status of Women

The decade of the 70s represented some of the greatest changes for female faculty and students. While there were many outside factors that contributed to the changes, such as Title IX and the addition of women in ROTC programs, most revolved around changes on the UF campus.

In 1971, President Stephen O'Connell appointed the Committee to Study Opportunities for Women at the University of Florida. When the Committee's report was released in June, one of the major conclusions was that there were not "equal opportunities for women in the areas studied."

One of the first actions following the Committee’s report established a permanent Committee on the Status of Women, which reported directly to the President of the University. The Committee was chaired by Irene Thompson, an English Department faculty member. Following the establishment of the permanent Committee, female students, faculty and staff were surveyed to determine their issues and concerns.

The results of the survey revealed a number of issues including: inequities in the salaries of women faculty, administrative and professional personnel; difficulty obtaining tenure for women faculty; few women administrators; many departments with no women on their faculties; low percentages of women faculty and students (11.9% of the faculty in 1972, most of whom were at the lower ranks and only 36% of the student body); and a lack of opportunities for female students in obtaining access to and leadership opportunities in campus-wide organizations.

The Committee was very active and made numerous recommendations to the President that were intended to improve the status of women on the campus. In addition to the salary inequities, the Committee addressed many issues including maternity leave policies, female student health care issues, safety concerns, female student access to campus-wide organizations, affirmative action matters and implementation of Title IX, particularly as it pertained to female athletics.

One outcome of the survey with regard to salary equity issues was the appointment of Irene Thompson to the position of Academic Equity Officer in 1973. Her major responsibility was the salary review of women faculty and, although some women received salary increases as a result, there was still a great deal of dissatisfaction. Soon after the salary study, the issue was brought to the Faculty Senate floor by Dr. Norma Leavitt, Professor of Physical Education and former Head, Department of Physical Education for Women.

Association for Women Faculty (AWF)

In 1974, Dr. Leavitt and a group of women faculty, including Glenna Carr, Norma Leavitt, Anita Spring, Irene Thompson, Felicity Trueblood, among others, called a meeting. The meeting culminated in the formation of the Association for Women Faculty (AWF), an independent advocacy and lobbying group not affiliated with the University or with any state or national group. Initially the group was open only to faculty, although administrative and professional staff were later included.

Dr. Norma Leavitt was chosen as the founding President. Early in Dr. Leavitt’s tenure, Felicity Trueblood assumed the office due to Dr. Leavitt’s time constraints. The first issue addressed by AWF was salary equity in the State University System (SUS). The second was the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA).

The Equal Rights Amendment was first proposed in Congress by the National Women's Party in 1923. Feminists of the late 1960s and early 1970s saw ratification of the Amendment as the only clear-cut way to eliminate all legal gender-based discrimination in the United States. In March 1972, Congress passed the Amendment and sent it forward for ratification by the states. (To date, Florida is one of 15 states that never ratified it.)

Early on in the Florida legislative debate, legislators indicated support of the equal work for equal pay issue, but had reservations about ratifying the Amendment. Soon after the formation of AWF, Glenna Carr took note of the debate and drafted a bill to eradicate gender-based salary inequities in faculty pay in state universities. With the assistance of Representative Sidney Martin and Senator Buddy McKay and the lobbying efforts of AWF members (Glenn Carr, Phyllis Meek, and Felicity Trueblood), the bill passed in 1976.

Despite the passing of the bill, resistance at UF continued. The AWF, along with members of the Committee on the Status of Women, implemented a counter parting procedure, which included a series of Equity Tribunals to review cases that were not settled by the individual woman's department or college. AWF was successful and the effort resulted in salary increases for many women. But, perhaps, the greater success was that women faculty became more unified and demonstrated that women could work together for common causes.

In addition to the salary equity issues, the Association for Women Faculty provided support for women faculty by organizing workshops for earning tenure and promotion (especially since it often took a woman longer than a man to get promoted) and workshops on how to become an administrator.

In 1977, a steering committee comprised of Association of Academic Faculty members (including Irene Thompson who was director of the program from 1977-85) were involved in the creation of a formal Women’s Studies program. After a two-year probationary period, the Senate voted unanimously to approve the program permanently.

The Association for Academic Women (AAW)

During the 1980s women became more vocal on campus. AAW began to focus on issues surrounding affirmative action and the implementation of Title IX. Other issues that needed to be addressed included increasing the number of women in low-level administrative positions, hiring of trailing spouses, and the sexual exploitation of women on campus.

In 1983, the group was renamed the Association for Academic Women and began including women from many parts of the university, including IFAS and the library. Membership rules were revised to include faculty and A&P personnel.

Throughout the 80s the Women’s Studies program flourished. More courses counting for Women's Studies were designated in departments across campus and the interdisciplinary B.A. in Women's Studies was initiated. No funding was provided so faculty members teaching from a gender perspective became affiliate faculty members to the Program.

The decade of the 90s represented some of the most significant changes for women on campus. The number of women in both faculty positions and administrative positions began to increase and in the late 90s the number of female students surpassed males. Surrounded by what appeared to be positive changes for women on campus, the focus of AAW began to change because newer members did not see a need for the types of advocacy previously necessary. In addition to changes in advocacy and programming, AAW was able to establish several awards to support women.

In 1995, Madelyn Lockhart, an Economics Professor, established the Madelyn Lockhart Dissertation Fellowship to honor an outstanding female graduate student in the dissertation phase of her doctoral degree. The first fellowship was awarded by AAW in 1996. Dr. Lockhart was instrumental in the creation of the Program in Women’s Studies in the late 1970s and went on to become the first female Dean of the Graduate School and the Dean of International Studies and Programs.

In 1998, AAW established the Woman of Distinction Award. This award is given annually to a University of Florida faculty member or administrative/professional woman. Nominations must be made by an AAW member. Nominees have made significant contributions to the quality of life of women. Defined broadly, these contributions include those directed to women at the University, in the local community, the state, nation or society in general. Recipients of the Woman of Distinction Award must be eligible for membership in AAW but the award is not restricted to current AAW members.

AAW presents these awards in conjunction with the annual Women’s History Month celebration. The first celebration was held in March 1996.

In 2003, as an initiative of AAW, the Academic and Professional Assembly (APA) was proposed to the provost. An organizational meeting was held and the Assembly was established. Dr. Cheri Brodeur was the founding president of APA and later president of AAW from 2006-007.

AAW has also served as an incubator for University-wide leadership roles including 5 faculty senate chairs: Jean Larson, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, 2002-03; Kim Tanzer, College of Design, Construction and Planning, 2005-06; Danaya Wright, College of Law, 2006-07; Mary Ann Ferguson, College of Journalism and Communications, 2010-11; and Cheri Brodeur, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, 2012-13.

Today, AAW remains true to its mission by providing support and mentoring through engaging programming and events including monthly luncheons, networking opportunities, and professional development and wellness programming. It also hosts an annual Women’s History Month celebration and holiday/end of the year parties.