Broadening Participation
Activities in Chemistry
Celeste M. Rohlfing
National Science Foundation
Chemistry Division
September 20, 2007
Rationale
Being broadly inclusive: seeking and accommodating
contributions from all sources while reaching out
especially to groups that have been underrepresented;
serving scientists, engineers, educators, students and the
public across the nation; and exploring every opportunity
for partnerships, both nationally and internationally.
-- NSF Strategic Plan
Large awards, by their nature and their visibility, are expected
to provide leadership in broadening participation.
Comprehensive CHE Strategy
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Continue the dialogue with our community
Embed “broadening participation” into CHE
business activities, and ask/require our PIs
to do the same
Exchange ideas within NSF on “best practices”
Dialogue with community
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January 2006 workshop on “Gender Equity in
Academic Chemistry,” for dept. chairs
Follow-up: leadership/diversity training for chairs at
Council of Chem. Res. Meeting in April 2007
Chairs’ website: resources; wiki discussion board
September 2007 workshop on under-represented
minorities in chemistry, for dept. chairs
Presentations at external mtgs. and workshops
Embed broadening participation
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Beginning in FY07, all CHE panel presentations include
information on implicit bias in evaluation
CHE Broadening Participation Plan adopted 11/07
(NSF 07-021)
CHE CRIF:MU solicitation: new requirement of
department plan for broadening participation
(NSF 07-552)
CHE CBC solicitation: new requirement of plan for
broadening participation
(NSF 07-575)
Exchange ideas on best practices
Presentations to:
 NSF internal working groups (ADVANCE, EOL)
 Directorate management teams (ENG, CISE,
MPS)
 Divisions and Directorates (OISE, BIO, OCI,
HRD Diversity Forum)
 Advisory Committees (GPRA-WG, EHR-AC,
CEOSE)
 Leadership teams (SMaRT, DD Retreat)
NSF Division of Chemistry
Plan for Broadening Participation
in Chemistry
Mike Clarke
Celeste Rohlfing
Wade Sisk
Charles Pibel
CHE CRIF:MU Solicitation:
Dept. plan components
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Leadership—How the department addresses its
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Strategic planning—How the department sets strategic
responsibilities with respect to broadening participation
and practices good citizenship. (Examples: community
outreach, department role as a campus leader.)
directions, determines key action plans, and assesses
quality of its processes (e.g., recruitment, hiring,
promotion, and retention) with regard to broadening
participation. (Example: identifying any past patterns or
current practices that have been obstacles to
broadening participation and how to alter them.)
Dept. plan components
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Statistics and analysis—How the department collects, uses, and
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Human resource focus—How the department enables its
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Results—How the department performs and improves with
analyzes data to inform and update the department’s strategic
planning with respect to broadening participation. (Example:
assessing changes in participation of underrepresented groups
as undergraduate chemistry majors.)
workforce to develop its full potential and how the workforce is
aligned with the department’s objectives with regard to
broadening participation. (Examples: leadership training, familyfriendly policies, mentoring for promotion, skill set training, other
resources.)
respect to the involvement of underrepresented groups.
(Example: implementing changes in recruitment practices or
tenure committee compositions.)
CHE CBC Solicitation:
Center plan components
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The broadening participation
goals to be addressed;
Plans for achieving those
goals; and
A discussion of how progress
toward diversity will be
measured.