The Committee on the Status of Women (CSW) is a faculty and staff group established under the University’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. The CSW was authorized by the Board of Regents and works to promote gender equity on campus by facilitating projects, providing support and fostering networking opportunities.
The campus community may have already noticed the CSW’s impact through the expansion of lactation/quiet rooms on campus, an accomplishment the group worked diligently to achieve. Not only did the CSW help get a lactation/quiet space dedicated in several underserved areas around campus, but it has ensured each new building will have a lactation/quiet space included in the design. Those spaces created by the CSW include four on-campus and two off-campus locations, available to the entire University community.
Additionally, the CSW has focused on enhancing safety measures on campus. They negotiated improved lighting and walkways, extended service hours of Pack Rides and increased availability of personal safety and self-defense classes.
Adrienne S. Renwick, Ph.D., is a teaching associate professor in the School of Public Health who teaches courses in the Center for the Application of Substance Abuse Technologies (CASAT) and has been involved with the group since fall 2023. In fall 2024, Renwick became co-chair with Lex Rodriguez, MSW, senior project coordinator from CASAT and w88 online game Cares, which provides prevention opportunities campus wide and confidential advocacy services to those impacted by sexual assault, relationship violence and stalking.
“The Committee on the Status of Women is essential to our campus because it provides a method to communicate gender-related concerns with University leadership,” Renwick said. “Our advocacy has produced significant improvements, while our inclusive mission ensures representation for diverse gender identities including trans women and non-binary individuals.
“By creating networking opportunities and support systems, we combat isolation experienced by underrepresented groups, while simultaneously working to eliminate systemic barriers to full participation in university life. Through educational initiatives like sponsored talks and summits, we contribute to broader cultural shifts in understanding and respecting gender on campus.”
The Committee’s current projects include making period products more accessible throughout campus, partnering with Detective Faith Syfrett from University Police Department-Northern Command to host HERO Project workshops on trafficking awareness, and supporting Jocelyn Simmons, a master’s student in sociology and one of the committee’s members, as she develops a workshop based on “Shine Theory” – the concept that women should support and celebrate each other’s success and not view one another as competition. The HERO Project and Shine Theory workshops will take place in fall 2025 and everyone is welcome to attend.
Getting involved
Faculty and staff interested in joining the CSW can reach out to co-chairsAdrienne Renwick or Lex Rodriguezand learn more.
Campus community partners can support CSW initiatives by sharing information about the committee’s work with colleagues and students. Academic departments and campus organizations are encouraged to co-sponsor events that align with the committee’s mission of promoting gender equity across University life.
Those with specific gender equity concerns or ideas for future projects are encouraged to contact CSW leadership directly.
Learn more onthe Committee on the Status of Women’s webpage.
