During the last two decades, women have made remarkable strides in higher education. Women are graduating from colleges and universities in record numbers, they have increased participation in doctoral programs, and the number of women faculty on college campuses has grown.

Despite these significant gains, women remain underrepresented in the highest echelons of higher education: the rank of tenured professor.

Women make up only 27 percent of tenured faculty at colleges and universities that grant four-year degrees. Unfortunately, sex discrimination continues to be one reason why female faculty are denied tenure.

Our publication, Tenure Denied: Cases of Sex Discrimination in Academia, chronicles the stories of women faculty who took their fight for tenure to the courts. The report is based on 19 sex discrimination cases supported by the AAUW Legal Advocacy Fund over the past two decades.

The AAUW Legal Advocacy Fund and the AAUW Educational Foundation believe that colleges and universities must develop and implement fair policies and practices that comply with nondiscrimination laws to ensure that the full talents of all — regardless of gender — are used. We offer the following information and resources for faculty, administrators, and others concerned about equitable tenure practices in academia.

• Tenure Statistics
  Statistics on the percentage of full-time faculty by gender and on tenure among full-time faculty by gender.
• Overview of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
  Learn about Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the legislation that prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis of sex, as well as race, color, national origin, and religion.
• Recommendations for Educational Institutions and Individuals
  Suggestions for women faculty and colleges and universities to promote fair and equitable tenure practices.
• Organizations and Government Agencies
  Additional sources for individuals who believe they have been discriminated against on the basis of sex in the denial of tenure.

Still need help?
If you have any questions, would like to learn more, or would like to make a contribution to LAF, send an e-mail to laf@aauw.org or call 202/785-7750.