The UNC Charlotte ADVANCE Competitive Awards Program
Background
The pursuit of new scientific and engineering knowledge and its use in service to society requires the talent, perspectives and insight that can only be assured by increasing diversity in the science, engineering and technological workforce. Despite advances made in the proportion of women choosing to pursue science and engineering careers, women continue to be significantly underrepresented in almost all science and engineering fields, constituting only approximately 25% of the science and engineering workforce at large, and less than 21% of science and engineering faculty in four year colleges and universities. Women from minority groups underrepresented in science and engineering constitute only about 2% of science and engineering faculty in 4-year colleges and universities.
The goal of the ADVANCE program is to increase the representation and advancement of women in academic science and engineering careers, thereby contributing to the development of a more diverse science and engineering workforce.
UNC Charlotte ADVANCE Program for the Future of the Faculty
UNC Charlotte is the recipient of an Institutional Transformation Award from the NSF ADVANCE program. These awards support academic institutional transformation to promote the increased participation and advancement of women scientists and engineers in academe. To this end, the UNC Charlotte ADVANCE program has established a Competitive Awards program to stimulate innovative thinking and comprehensive efforts to reduce institutional barriers and promote the success of women scientists and engineers in the professorial ranks: The Bonnie Cone Fellowships for individual faculty members and the Solution Team Awards.