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UM Climate Research
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In 2004, as part of Project PACE’s Assessment component, Chris Fiore conducted a university-wide Climate Survey. This survey highlights the experiences of a wide range of faculty, including those hired within the last five years and those hired prior to the last five years, as well as faculty who have resigned or who are involved in recruitment. To view the complete Climate Survey (pdf), visit the links at the top of the page.
In addition, Chris Fiore and Research Assistant Joanna Legerski are currently conducting in-depth, structured Faculty Interviews (pdf 12KB) that focus on gender issues at The University of Montana-Missoula. The interview questions address various recruitment and retention topics, such as why candidates decline or accept job offers and why scientists remain or leave the University. This interview process seeks to gain information regarding the decision-making experiences of a broad spectrum of current and resigned faculty.
General trends in the data show that the Missoula community’s size, location, and resources affect interviewees’ decisions to accept or decline job offers at UM-Missoula. For instance, Climate Survey (pdf 12KB) results showed that long-time faculty, as well as new hires, felt Missoula’s “small-town” atmosphere and size were positive assets; for others, however, Missoula’s community size limited their ability to find spousal accommodation and employment. In addition, the Climate Survey revealed that some faculty, particularly women, experience feelings of frustration, isolation, and lack of information and confidence within their respective University departments.
In addition to the climate research, Jim Hirstein has collected and analyzed baseline data of women’s status at UM-Missoula. Information gathered includes faculty gender composition, salary, space, and rank.
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