New program leader of ADVANCE works to create positive workplace
Trish Kalbas-Schmidt was chosen as the new program leader for USU’s ADVANCE, a program designed to create supportive workplace initiatives for faculty members.
The National Science Foundation (NSF) funds USU’s ADVANCE program, one of just 19 institutions nationwide to receive such a grant to promote gender equality and faculty effectiveness. The money given by the NSF is a five-year grant, which USU received in 2003.
“We want to create a supportive workplace environment as well as work on gender equality in the STEM colleges, which include Science, technology, Engineering and math,” Kalbas-Schmidt said.
In information previously released by the ADVANCE program, it said, “The overarching aim is to improve the recruitment and retention of women faculty in the colleges of Science, Engineering, Agriculture and Natural Resources.
Among the goals of ADVANCE are to increase the transparency of the system, improve department climate, increase research connections among faculty and
enhance work-life integration.”
In efforts to achieve these goals, ADVANCE is currently working on three faculty programs, Kalbas-Schmidt said. The programs are the Transitional Support Pilot Program, Associate to Full and Collaborative Grant Support.
The Transitional Support Pilot Program was created to support tenured or tenure-track faculty whose research has been delayed because of family events like a birth, death, illness or divorce. Departments have to provide support indirectly through a reduced workload or directly through funds equal to those offered by the program.
“This is what I call the ‘life happens’ grant. It helps those whose research has been delayed by family,” Kalbas-Schmidt said. “They have got to stay on a timeline with their research so we help them pick up and get restarted after an interruption.
The second program, Associate to Full, is offered to faculty in the Colleges of Science, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Engineering. The goal of this career development pilot program is to help educators advance from associate to full professors. To help professors overcome obstacles, ADVANCE helps them to plan their progression in the field. Departments are obligated to show support by cooperating with the professors.
Collaborative Grant Support is designed to boost collaborative research in science and engineering, Kalbas-Schmidt said. This program provides funds for initial research for work involving research, female tenured and tenure-track professors.
Because the program is supported by the NSF, it is required that ADVANCE submit quarterly and annual reports to detail current projects and progress made in developing a supportive and accommodating place of work.
In 2008, when the grant is over, it will be the university’s choice either continue or end the program.
“University funding lays in the hands of top administrators, whether or not they will keep us or not,” Kalbas-Schmidt said. “It is our goal that the university will pick it up but they have to make that decision.”
“Money is getting tighter and tighter all across the board. People don’t have money to support their faculty. People don’t know we are out there and that we really are a good resource for money,” Kalbas-Schmidt said. “This is a really good program that could better the university as a whole.
As program leader of ADVANCE, Kalbas-Schmidt is in charge of a variety of tasks. She said one thing she really enjoys about her job is that it is different everyday and she does a little bit of everything. Kalbas-Schmidt manages the grant, plans events and handles communication for the program. She helps with reports given to the NSF, and writes reports and news letters.
“I also help with outreach which involves meeting with other faculty members across campus to get the message out about ADVANCE. I meet with people one on one and also give formal presentations,” she said.
Kalbas-Schmidt began working at Utah State a month ago after moving from Louisville, Ky. where she worked for the Greater Louisville Medical Society as a liaison between medical scientists and physicians.
“I love it here. Utah State is an incredible institution with incredible people,” Kalbas-Schmidt said.
Kalbas-Schmidt said, “You know how people search for that something and want to make a difference? I have the opportunity to do that here, to make an impact. It’s a good feeling.”
-ariek@cc.usu.edu