In 1995, they established an escrow account for alums who wanted to donate to Harvard but were unwilling to do so until Harvard changed how it recruits women faculty members.

Before they would turn over the money, the group demanded that the University establish specific timetables, use special hiring committees for departments with the fewest women and issue public annual reports on the state of women in the Faculty.

The hiring process did not change. In June 2000, however, CEWH decided to give the account’s $1.5 million to the Radcliffe Institute for a professorship which pays an assistant professor for five years, including two years of research.

At the end of the five years, the Faculty member is expected to become a full professor in that department and the money will go to fund another assistant professor’s salary.

The University had not implemented any of CEWH’s demands, but members say they hoped the appointment of Drew Gilpin Faust as dean of the Radcliffe Institute would bring with it an increased focus on women across campus.

While the escrow account did not meet its primary goal, the committee members say their fundraising potential forced the University to notice them.

“That made Harvard sit up and pay attention,” Welch says. For instance, she says, the group found they had an easier time scheduling meetings with administrators.

And whereas before CEWH could not get billing in the Radcliffe reunion schedule, Dimmitt says the group is now listed prominently in the publication.

NOTHING TO LOSE

Committee members acknowledge that their e-mails and meetings have not always brought immediate change—but they see themselves making headway nonetheless.

They had hoped to spearhead a study on the status of women at Harvard, modeled after a self-study conducted at MIT’s School of Science from 1995 to 1999. After two years of petitioning, they collected about 1,000 signatures backing their initiative.

But then-University President Neil L. Rudenstine turned down their request saying that a report like MIT’s wouldn’t work at Harvard because of the diversity of Harvard’s academic departments and professional schools, according to CEWH Co-Chair Gabriella P. Schlesinger ’58.

“Even though they were saying they wanted to improve the climate for women, they were putting the shade down in a very visible form,” Welch says.

Last year, the committee sent an informal e-mail survey to all female faculty members asking them to describe the three most pressing issues for women at Harvard.

Out of 340 female professors who received the survey, only 47 returned it.