RAMP-UP! at Rensselaer: Departmental Cultural Change

RAMP-Up's Cultural Change Initiative is a critical mechanism for self-reform by departments. Cultural transformation began in earnest with RAMP-Up's Career Campaign Awards, and through kick-off events like the "Advancing Women in the Academy" Colloquy.


Cultural Change Proposals

When this Initiative was first introduced, departmental teams campus-wide were invited to attend a pre-proposal retreat and workshop to discuss the thrust of the Cultural Change program. The teams followed-up an initial investigation with a proposal detailing a feasible plan for departmental change. As a result, RAMP-Up authorized a grant to support the activities of individual departments interested in fostering interaction and networking among their faculty members.   [Read More]


Criteria for Evaluating Proposals

  • Commitment of departmental faculty to the proposed initiative
  • Probability of success in engaging faculty in the effort
  • Effectiveness of the program in promoting departmental change
  • Potential for improving the climate for women and minorities in the department
  • Probability the initiaitive will lead to faculty career advancement

Awards

Four departments received departmental cultural change awards in October 2007. An initial assessment of departmental networking provided a baseline measure of changes occurring over the one year term
of the award.   [See story]