Program Details
University of Washington (Astronomy) (Astronomy)
How many tenure-track or tenured faculty -- male/female?
12 total - 8 male/4 female
How many graduate students-- male/female?
31 total - 15 male/16 female
How many post doctoral associates - male/female?
21 total - 15 male/6 female
Is there a family leave policy for graduate students? If so, describe.
Not specifically. Students may apply for on-leave status per quarter basis. (see http://www.grad.washington.edu/Acad/gsmemos/gsmemo09.htm for on-leave details).
Is there family health insurance for graduate students? If so, is it included in the stipend?
Family may enroll for the graduate student insurance plan (GAIP). The student premiums are covered in full by the University if they are an eligible TA/RA/SA or fellow/trainee. Eligible dependents (spouse, same sex domestic partner, and children) have their premiums partially covered by the University. (see http://www.washington.edu/admin/hr/benefits/insure/gaip/index.html for more GAIP information).
Please describe why someone applying to graduate school who is interested in a female-friendly department should choose your department.
The UW Astronomy department has a strong commitment to diversity of all kinds, including providing a supportive atmosphere for female astronomers. Our female faculty members conduct cutting-edge research and win national grants while serving as role models and mentors to graduate students, who in turn mentor undergraduates through programs such as Pre-MAP (http://www.astro/washington.edu/premap). UWAWA (UW Association of Women in Astronomy), in which women in the department have potluck dinners about once a quarter, has been a tradition for many years and is now threatening to outgrow our dining rooms. Our latest group of entering graduate students consisted of 3 men and 2 women, indicating both that the admissions process does an excellent job of identifying talented female astronomers and that our department comes across as an appealing place for female graduate students. The faculty care about implementing policies that promote the general happiness of all graduate students, and they generally solicit grad student input for major decisions. The UW as a whole is committed to advancing women in sciences through programs like ADVANCE (http://www.engr.washington.edu/advance/), WISE (http://www.engr.washington.edu/wise/) and the faculty/graduate student mentoring program (http://www.engr.washington.edu/cwd/CWDMentoringFacGrad.html). See our department's page on diversity (http://www.astro.washington.edu/diversity.html) for more information.
Has the institution had a Climate for Women in Physics Site Visit or Gender Equity Conversation?
No
Updated: July 12, 2011
