Initiative at UML Led By Psychology Professor Meg Bond
10/04/2022
Contacts for media: Emily Gowdey-Backus, director of media relations, Emily_GowdeyBackus@uml.edu and Nancy Cicco, assistant director of media relations, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu
UMass Lowell has joined an initiative launched by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) aimed at preventing and addressing sexual harassment in higher education.
The university applied earlier this year to join the Partner Network of NASEM’s Action Collaborative on Preventing Sexual Harassment in Higher Education and learned in September it had been accepted.
“UML has made a strong commitment to addressing sexual harassment of faculty, staff and students, but there is always more we can do,” said Meg A. Bond, a UMass Lowell Distinguished University Professor of psychology and director of the ADVANCE Office for Faculty Equity, who led the application process and has extensive experience researching workplace dynamics and the issue of sexual harassment.
“I am particularly excited about NASEM’s focus on primary prevention. Becoming part of this national network of major universities that share our commitment will allow us to benefit from – and contribute to – a trove of resources and expertise to deepen our commitment and to extend the impact of our efforts,” Bond said.
In a public statement of commitment sent to NASEM by Chancellor Julie Chen and Provost Joseph Hartman, UMass Lowell’s commitment to a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment for all faculty, staff and students was demonstrated through programs such as:
- The five-year National Science Foundation Institutional Transformation grant – Women Academics Valued and Engaged in STEM (WAVES) – to address systemic biases and increase the representation and advancement of women in academic science, technology, engineering and mathematics
- UMass Lowell’s work to institutionalize and make permanent the work of WAVES by creating an ADVANCE Office for Faculty Equity
- The creation of two university task forces to address the issue of sexual- and gender-based harassment on campus
“As a member of the Action Collaborative’s Partner Network,” Chen and Hartman wrote, “our institution is committed to: 1) participate actively in the Action Collaborative's work and actively exchanging resources with other institutions of higher education, 2) share information about the varied, and multi-leveled efforts at UML, and 3) use, adapt, implement, and share the resources and practices that are identified or published by the Action Collaborative within both our university and professional networks.”
Further, Bond will attend the Action Collaborative’s summit later this month to share and gather best practices for consideration as UMass Lowell continues its efforts to ensure a safe, respectful and inclusive campus culture.
UMass Lowell is a national research university located on a high-energy campus in the heart of a global community. The university offers its students bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in business, education, engineering, fine arts, health, humanities, sciences and social sciences. UMass Lowell delivers high-quality educational programs, vigorous hands-on learning and personal attention from leading faculty and staff, all of which prepare graduates to be leaders in their communities and around the globe. www.uml.edu