Caucus Objectives

The University of Western Ontario Caucus on Women’s Issues was formed in 1980 to promote and safeguard the interests of women at The University of Western Ontario and its affiliates. Our objectives are as follows:

1. to cultivate a sense of community among women at the university
2. to encourage the integration of the findings from feminist research into curricula at UWO and its affiliates
3. to promote a work environment which facilitates the full professional development of all women employed at UWO and its affiliates

Watchdog

The Caucus Executive keeps tabs on the climate at Western. We make sure that committees addressing women's concerns meet, that campus publications represent women's voices and women's interests, and that women working and studying at Western fee safe, valued and respected.

Representation of women's interests to the university community

Increasingly, the Caucus is called upon to comment on issues and policy or to name representatives to sit on committees. Currently, members of the Caucus Executive sit on:

• The President's Standing Committee on Employment Equity
• The President's Standing Committee on the Safety of Women on Campus
• The UWOFA Status of Women & Equity Committee

Achievements/Highlights of Caucus Initiatives:

• supporting the formation of The Centre for Women's Studies and Feminist Research (now a department) at UWO
• developing "The Backhouse Report" on experiences of women faculty at Western
• establishing the Pay Equity Review for female employees at Western
• drawing attention to how Western's poor showing on equity has threatened public funding of the university
• producing 3 videos on the experiences of women (and minority groups) on campus: The Chilly Climate (1991), Backlash (1996) and Voices of Diversity (2008)
• developing mentorship workshops
• organizing with the CWSFR, an annual Showcase of Women's Research at Western
• organizing a Symposium on Women in the Sciences and Engineering at UWO.