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Washington, DC – While a commission
convened in Washington today to assess the impact of the Title IX
law on college athletics, more than 200 of America's top science,
math and engineering educators urged the Department of Education
to enforce the landmark law and ensure equal opportunity for women
studying and working in the academic fields of science, math and
engineering. At the urging of U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), the
professors, experts and department chairs sent a letter to Education
Secretary Roderick Paige requesting that the Department of Education
ensure that colleges and universities are not violating Title IX
and thereby denying equal opportunity for women to study, research
and teach in the fields of math, science and engineering.
"The Office of Civil Rights within the
Department of Education has the mandate to enforce Title IX,"
reads the letter. "We implore you to make certain that the
disparities we see in the numbers of women and men in our nation's
institutions of science education are not the result of violations
of Title IX law."
It is commonly, but erroneously, believed that
Title IX applies only to sports. The Title IX statute reads: "No
person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded
from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected
to discrimination under any educational program or activity receiving
Federal financial assistance." Women seeking to pursue studies
or careers in any academic discipline at colleges or universities
receiving federal funds should enjoy equal opportunity under the
Title IX statute. Since the passage of Title IX in 1972, women's
participation in athletics has risen dramatically, from one in 17
girls playing team sports before Title IX to one in 2.5 today. Although
women currently account for only 20 percent of science undergraduates
and six percent of engineering faculty, Title IX progress in the
fields of math, science and engineering could help increase those
numbers to 40 or even 50 percent.
"Secretary Paige should work to ensure
that the mandate of Title IX is met in all academic disciplines,
especially math and sciences," said Wyden. "At time when
this nation is facing a shortage of computer scientists, aerospace
engineers and physicists, bringing more women into these fields
is not only the right thing to do, but it is also the smartest way
to address a crisis that threatens our nation's economic vitality."
At a recent conference sponsored by the Intel
Foundation, Tufts University and the National Academy of Engineering,
Wyden encouraged more than 100 educators from more than 20 universities
to actively work to make equal opportunity in math, science and
engineering a priority at each institution.
"At your own institutions, let them know
that Title IX should be a guiding principle in hiring, tenure, scholarships,
and lab space – and refuse to accept less," said Wyden.
"It's a law on the books, and if your school isn't following
it now, eventually that's going to be noticed. They should be in
compliance today."
As Chair of the Subcommittee on Science, Technology
and Space last year, Wyden held several hearings to assess opportunities
and barriers for women wishing to study and work in the fields of
math, science and engineering. Wyden and Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.)
have requested a General Accounting Office study to determine what
is already being done, if anything, to ensure Title IX compliance
in these fields.
Wyden also won passage of legislation last
year requiring a review of whether the National Science Foundation
is meeting its goals to expand science, math and engineering opportunities
for women, minorities and people with disabilities. In particular,
the Wyden amendment calls on the National Academy of Sciences to
assess how universities treat female science and engineering faculty
members in issues like hiring, promotion, tenure and allocation
of resources like lab space. It also required a study to look at
gender differences in the distribution of Federal research and development
funds.
A copy of the letter to Secretary Paige, along
with the list of 200 signatories, can be accessed online at http://wyden.senate.gov/leg_issues/letters/letter_sec_paige.html.
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