This file was prepared for electronic distribution by the inforM staff. Questions or comments should be directed to inform-editor@umail.umd.edu THE STATUS OF WOMEN IN PUBLIC HIGHER EDUCATION 1982-1991 Maryland Higher Education Commission Presented to the women legislators of Maryland October 15, 1992 William Donald Schaefer, Governor State of Maryland Maryland Higher Education Commission Shaila R. Aery Secretary of Higher Education J. Henry Butta, Chair Quentin R. Lawson, Vice Chair J. Glenn Beall, Jr. Barrie G. Christman Elmer B. Kaelin David T. McLaughlin Osborne A. Payne Charles B. Saunders, Jr. Richard P.Streett, Jr. Constance Cornell Stuart Otis Warren, Jr. INTRODUCTION Issues relating to the status of women in higher education have become increasingly prominent since the early 1970's. Like many other states, Maryland is committed to ensuring the equitable participation of women in higher education. Objectives outlined in The Maryland Plan for Postsecondary Education call for the further development of statewide policies to recruit, promote and retain women and minorities in faculty and professional staff positions, annual increases in the number of women and minority faculty in tenure-track positions, and an increase in the recruitment of graduate students, particularly in shortage areas and with emphasis on minorities and women. The following pages provide an examination of the status of women in Maryland's public system of higher education at two- and four- year institutions from 1982-1991. Specifically, the report looks at two issues: l) the representation of women in both managerial and faculty positions; and 2) salary trends. Data used in the report were generated by the Maryland Higher Education Commission. Only data for years 1982, 1985, 1988, and 1991 are presented in the report; however, data for intervening years may be obtained upon request. REPRESENTATION OF WOMEN Professional and Paraprofessional Staff Data for Professional and Paraprofessional staff are provided in three categories. Managers and executives include individuals whose principal assignments require major responsibility for management of the institution, or a customarily recognized department. This category includes presidents, vice presidents, deans, directors, associate deans, assistant deans, and executive officers of academic departments . Other Professionals include persons whose primary assignments would require at least a baccalaureate. Technical and Paraprofessionals include those persons whose assignments require specialized knowledge or skills which may be acquired through experience or academic work such as that offered in many two-year technical institutes, community colleges, junior colleges, or through equivalent on-the-job training. Computer programmers and operators, engineering aides, licensed practical or vocational nurses, technicians and similar occupations are included in this category. Over the past ten years, the percentage of women in managerial or executive positions has grown both at two- and four-year public institutions. The increase has been particularly notable at the community colleges, where the proportion of women has risen 18 percent since 1982. Women currently comprise 43 percent of all full-time managers and executives at the two-year institutions compared to 35 percent at the four-year collegiate institutions. Women constitute a majority of the staff classified as other professionals at both two- and four-year institutions. Participation rates for women at two-year institutions have increased in both the other professionals, and technical and paraprofessionals categories. At four-year institutions, however, participation rates for women in these categories have declined. In 1982, 62 percent of the staff at four-year institutions classified as other professionals were women. By 1991, women comprised only 54 percent of the staff in this category. The proportion of women technical and paraprofessionals has dropped from 41 percent to 36 percent over the same time period. Professional and Paraprofessional Distribution at Two- and Four-Year Institutions 1982, 1985, 1988, and 1991 Two-Year Institutions 1982 1985 1988 1991 m f m f m f m f Managers and Executives 75% 25% 69% 31% 63% 37% 57% 43% Other Professionals 40% 60% 37% 63% 36% 64% 33% 67% Technical and Paraprofessionals 46% 54% 40% 60% 42% 58% 39% 61% Four-Year Institutions 1982 1985 1988 1991 m f m f m f m f Managers and Executives 70% 30% 66% 34% 66% 34% 65% 35% Other Professionals 38% 62% 45% 55% 45% 55% 46% 54% Technical and Paraprofessionals 59% 41% 68% 32% 62% 38% 64% 36% Faculty Since 1982, Maryland's public campuses have added almost 800 new faculty positions. Currently women comprise slightly more than one- third of the full-time faculty at Maryland public campuses, and the proportion of women faculty has risen steadily over the ten year period. This increase has been most notable at two-year institutions. Increases in female representation at the four-year institutions have been more modest. The tables below indicate that the proportion of women having attained the rank of professor or associate professor has risen slightly for community colleges, but has remained fairly constant at four-year institutions. The proportion of female assistant professors has increased at two-year institutions from 51 percent in 1982 to 60 percent in 1991, while the proportion at four-year institutions has remained constant. The proportion of women instructors and lecturers has increased at both two- and four-year institutions. The data also suggest that while the proportion of women faculty in tenure-track positions has increased at two-year institutions, it has changed little at four-year institutions. Tenure-track faculty include professors, associate professors and assistant professors. Women comprise a higher proportion of tenure-track faculty at two-- year institutions than at the four-year campuses. Faculty Distribution By Rank at Public Two- and Four-Year Institutions 1982, 1985, 1988, and 1991 Two-Year Institutions 1982 1985 1988 1991 m f m f m f m f Professor 74% 26% 72% 28% 71% 39% 69% 31% Associate Professor 63% 37% 61% 39% 56% 44% 52% 48% Assistant Professor 49% 51% 45% 55% 43% 57% 40% 60% Instructor 36% 64% 43% 57% 36% 65% 39% 61% Lecturer 24% 76% 22% 78% 29% 71% 31% 69% Total Faculty 59% 41% 58% 42% 56% 44% 54% 46% Four-Year Institutions 1982 1985 1988 1991 m f m f m f m f Professor 87% 13% 88% 12% 87% 13% 86% 14% Associate Professor 80% 20% 77% 23% 75% 25% 74% 26% Assistant Professor 61% 39% 61% 39% 62% 38% 61% 39% Instructor 44% 56% 38% 62% 43% 57% 40% 60% Lecturer 60% 40% 58% 42% 42% 48% 50% 50% Total Faculty 71% 29% 71% 29% 71% 29% 70% 30% SALARY TRENDS Professional and Paraprofessional Staff From 1982-1992, Maryland increased its general fund support for higher education by 109%. This rate of growth placed Maryland fifth nationally for the decade. While salaries for both male and female professional and paraprofessional staff at Maryland's public two- and four-year institutions have increased over the past ten years, women continue to be paid less than their male counterparts. The rate of increase in salaries for men and women over this period has been similar. Salaries for both male and female managers and executives at the two-year institutions have increased more than 50 percent since 1982 (see Table 1, appendix A). However, the graph comparing average salaries below shows that the average salary paid to men in this category in 1991 was 22 percent higher than that paid to women, compared to 20 percent in 1982. In the two categories having a majority of women, average salaries for men and women are more comparable. For instance, the average salary paid to female technical and paraprofessionals has increased 52 percent since 1982, while the average salary paid to men has increased just 39 percent. Women in this category now earn 96 percent of the compensation awarded male employees compared with 86 percent in 1982. At the four-year institutions, salaries for male and female managers and executives have also increased similar rates (see Table 2, appendix A). As the graph comparing salaries for professional staff illustrates, however, the average salary paid to a man in this category in 1991 was 28 percent higher than that paid to a woman in the same category, compared with 26 percent in 1982. Salaries for men classified as other professionals hav increased 62 percent over the ten year period, while those for women in the same category increased only 48 percent. Women in this category earned 82 percent of the compensation paid to male employees in 1991 compared with 92 percent in 1982. Salaries for men and women technical and paraprofessionals have increased more than 60 percent since 1982. Differences in salaries for this category have remained fairly constant. Female Salaries as a Percentage of Male Salaries Professionals and Paraprofessionals at Two-Year Institutions Year Managers/ Other Profs. Tech/Para Executives Profs. 1982 80% 77% 76% 1985 76% 80% 93% 1988 72% 84% 92% 1991 78% 83% 96% Female Salaries as a Percentage of Male Salaries Professionals and Paraprofessionals at Four-Year Institution Year Managers/ Other Profs. Tech/Para Executives Profs. 1982 74% 92% 85% 1985 68% 83% 89% 1988 65% 83% 82% 1991 72% 82% 86% Faculty Data on average faculty salaries are examined by gender and academic program area. For the purposes of this report, academic programs have been grouped into six categories. Sciences includes the biological and physical sciences, computer and information sciences, engineering, mathematics, data processing, engineering technologies and natural sciences technologies. Professions includes the health professions, teacher education, law, library science, and medical technologies. The fine and applied arts, foreign languages, letters, and theology are included in humanities, and area studies, psychology, and other social sciences in the category social sciences. Business and management, and business and commerce technology take up the business category. Salaries for both men and women faculty at two- and four-year intitutions have increased over the ten year period, and while sa;ries for men and women are more comparable at the two-year institutions, there is no clear trend toward closing the salary gap. The graphs below illustrate trends in average salaries paid to women faculty, by academic area, as a percentage of the average salaries paid to men. Tables 1 and 2 in attachment B contain average salaries paid to men and women over the ten year period. At the two-year institutions, salaries for women have increased at a slightly lower rate that the salaries for men, except in professions and business. The average salary for men teaching in professions has increased from $26,971 in 1982, to $43,117 in 1991, or 60 percent, while salaries for women have increased 62 percent over the same period. Yet the gap in salaries has remained fairly constant; the average salary paid to a man in 1991 was 14 percent higher than that paid a woman, down one percent from 1982. In business, women have made some progress, as the gap in salaries paid to men and women has decreased from 17 percent in 1982 to 10 percent in 1991. At four-year institutions, rates of increase in salaries paid to women faculty are higher than those for men not only in business, but in science and those disciplines classified as other. Salaries for women teaching in the sciences have increased 77 percent since 1982 compared to 70 percent for men. Still, men earn more than 40 percent more than women, a trend that has continued over the ten year period. Again, some progress can be seen for women teaching in business. Salaries for women teaching in these programs have increased 105 percent compared to 86 percent for men over the ten year period. As a result, women in this area now earn 87 percent of the average salary paid to men compared to 75 percent in 1982. In professions, humanities, and the social sciences, salary increases for men have out paced those for women, resulting in salaries for women that are 33, 21, and 22 percent lower than those for men, respectively. Female Salaries as a Percentage of Male Salaries Full-Time Science Faculty at Two- and Four-Year Institutions Two-Year Inst. Four-Year Inst. 1982 87% 51% 1985 89% 56% 1988 87% 57% 1991 86% 57% Female Salaries as a Percentage of Male Salaries Full-Time Professions Faculty at Two- and Four-Year Inst. Two-Year Inst. Four-Year Inst. 1982 85% 71% 1985 84% 62% 1988 84% 66% 1991 86% 67% Female Salaries as a Percentage of Male Salaries Full-Time Humanities Faculty at Two- and Four-Year Inst. Two-Year Inst. Four-Year Inst. 1982 89% 82% 1985 92% 79% 1988 87% 76% 1991 87% 77% Female Salaries as a Percentage of Male Salaries Full-Time Social Sci. Faculty at Two- and Four-Year Inst. Two-Year Inst. Four-Year Inst. 1982 90% 81% 1985 93% 79% 1988 95% 81% 1991 90% 78% Female Salaries as a Percentage of Male Salaries Full-Time Business Faculty at Two- and Four-Year Inst. Two-Year Inst. Four-Year Inst. 1982 83% 75% 1985 82% 69% 1988 87% 85% 1991 90% 87% APPENDIX A Table 1 Average Salaries of Professionals and Paraprofessionals at Two- and Four-Year Institutions 1982, 1985, 1988, 1992 Two-Year Institutions Managers/ Other Profs. Tech./Para Executives Profs m f m f m f 1982 $36,673 $30,564 $27,421 $22,362 $18,600 $16,292 1985 $42,867 $34,515 $30,086 $25,082 $20,492 $19,081 1988 $50,784 $39,754 $34,714 $30,038 $22,537 $20,838 1991 $56,854 $46,787 $38,516 $32,953 $25,816 $24,706 Four-Year Institutions Managers/ Other Profs. Tech./Para Executives Profs m f m f m f 1982 $35,620 $28,292 $23,554 $21,906 $18,047 $15,731 1985 $42,903 $32,604 $28,259 $24,093 $21,369 $19,287 1988 $56,844 $42,096 $33,660 $28,700 $25,812 $22,259 1991 $65,191 $50,848 $38,227 $32,363 $30,328 $26,648 APPENDIX B Table 1 Average Faculty Salaries at Two- and Four-Year Institutions by Academic Area 1982, 1985, 1988, and 1992 Two-Year Institutions Science 1982 1985 1988 1991 m f m f m f m f $28,151 $24,903 $31,938 $28,864 $38,350 $34,060 $43,940 $38,478 Professions 1982 1985 1988 1991 m f m f m f m f $26,971 $23,392 $31,793 $27,328 $37,923 $32,569 $43,117 $37,909 Humanities 1982 1985 1988 1991 m f m f m f m f $28,949 $26,181 $33,246 $30,662 $39,281 $34,875 $44,482 $39,407 Social Sciences 1982 1985 1988 1991 m f m f m f m f $29,999 $27,336 $33,680 $31,562 $40,437 $38,669 $46,149 $42,070 Business 1982 1985 1988 1991 m f m f m f m f $26,687 $22,784 $31,002 $26,379 $36,942 $32,553 $42,255 $38,241 Table 2 Science 1982 1985 1988 1991 m f m f m f m f $30,715 $20,612 $37,146 $25,760 $45,396 $31,751 $52,311 $36,527 Professions 1982 1985 1988 1991 m f m f m f m f $33,626 $26,067 $41,737 $30,240 $49,606 $37,112 $57,616 $43,197 Humanities 1982 1985 1988 1991 m f m f m f m f $27,609 $23,327 $32,948 $27,217 $39,596 $31,899 $44,897 $36,991 Social Sciences 1982 1985 1988 1991 m f m f m f m f $30,238 $25,507 $36,266 $30,063 $43,902 $36,889 $49,596 $40,760 Business 1982 1985 1988 1991 m f m f m f m f $29,442 $23,620 $36,117 $27,620 $45,292 $39,473 $54,721 $48,335