Analysis of workplace climate for female faculty of color in computer science and engineering

The underrepresentation of female faculty in science, technology, engineering and mathematics departments is well documented. In computer science and engineering particularly, the dearth of female faculty is even more pronounced. Diversity of faculty in these disciplines is important because it has direct implications for the diversity and quality of future engineering and computer science workforce. Diversity and inclusion are very important parts of campus climate. Therefore, it is critical for universities to have a welcoming climate in order to retain female faculty and foster an environment where they can thrive. This preliminary study examines diversity issues related to female faculty of color with a focus on professional concerns that are unique to this group of female faculty in computer science and engineering. This paper examines current literature and data to identify key factors that affect workplace climate for this group of faculty. Furthermore, this paper identifies gaps in existing studies and will inform the development of a study on the experiences of female faculty of color in computer science and engineering related to workplace climate.