How It Happened: Women's Studies at Towson University

A Preview of our 30"’ Anniversary Souvenir Booklet: The Women's Studies Time Line and Alumnae Reports It Happened: Women's Studies at Towson University 1971 A group of women faculty and students meet with President Jim Fisher: issues addressed include the need for Women’s Studies courses, for child care facilities and a Women’s Center, and for the improvement in the number and status of women faculty and administrators. The Committee on the Status of Women of the Faculty Association is formed to investigate salary inequalities. Committee W of AAUP is activated. Its agenda includes working to explore and correct gender inequities in faculty salaries; investigating nepotism and working for equity in department hiring policies; investigating the situation of part-time faculty; working for equitable representation of women on college committees and in administrative positions. A Women’s Studies Committee, co-chaired by Elaine Hedges and Sara Coulter, is appointed by Dean Kenneth Shaw to develop Women’s Studies courses, explore means to more adequately represented women in the entire curriculum, and develop grant proposals to fund Women’s Studies courses and programs. “Biographical Studies of American Women” is offered by Professor Fred Rivers, History: the first Women’s Studies course. 1972 The Women’s Center is established. Student day care is made available. A Committee on Affirmative Action is appointed. A library budget for ordering books in Women’s Studies is established. Towson holds a conference on Women in Higher Education. The Faculty Association Com. on the Status of Women submits its 1st annual report. Salary equity adjustments begin.