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Advocacy Groups

Over the years, the OWF has made a substantial impact on the working environment for women at Northwestern. The OWF has helped to create new departments and positions at Northwestern that support the needs of women faculty.  Below are some milestones in the OWF history:

1981

The Organization of Women Faculty is established at Northwestern University.

1986

OWF successfully lobbies for the creation of the Northwestern University Women’s Center. In response to strenuous lobbying by the OWF, the University establishes a campus Women’s Center to counsel faculty, students and staff on issues surrounding sexual harassment, sexual assault, childhood sexual abuse, relationship violence, discrimination, sexual orientation, racial or ethnic isolation, and other matters related to being a woman at Northwestern.

1990

The position of Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs is created to monitor issues related to women faculty, as well as to oversee all other faculty matters.

1991

The Women’s Studies Program is established with support from the OWF. In 1991, the University makes its first faculty appointments in that program. In 1992, Women’s Studies awards its first graduate certificate; and in 1993, Women’s Studies is recognized as a major by the College of Arts and Sciences. In June 2000, the Women’s Studies Program formally changes its name to the Gender Studies Program

1994

Committee on Women in the Academic Community (COWAC) established: In 1991, the OWF, in conjunction with the General Faculty Committee (GFC), urged the administration to create a Task Force on Women at Northwestern that would collect the kinds of data we needed and would make recommendations for improving the status of women at the University. Its final report, presented in 1994, stresses the need for a permanent Committee on Women in the Academic Community that would maintain the data bases established by the Task Force and continue the process of monitoring, reporting on, and helping to improve the climate for women at the University.