Pipeline: Recruitment Resources and Programs
How You Can Help Women of Color Succeed

Start with the job description. Make sure it's reasonable, knowing these individuals will have lots of informal responsibilities beyond their job description.

Take them seriously as competent professionals who were hired because they had the qualifications for the job.

Spend extra time to make sure the person succeeds. Be available for informal talks and advising.

To get around the feeling of isolation women of color often experience, make a budget commitment to send women of color to national meetings and other forums that offer opportunities to connect with their colleagues.

Add responsibilities to the job description as the person grows in the job. Take advantage of promotions and reclassifications to help them advance.

For administrators, provide line experience responsibilities rather than staff and/or project tasks.

For faculty, make sure untenured faculty understand expectations on tenure. Provide regular feedback and support for time and space for research activities. Pretenure sabbaticals can be important.

This excerpt reprinted with permission from On Campus with Women
Spring 1997; v 26, no. 3.