A new year meant new business for the President’s Commission on the Status of Women (PCSW), which held its first meeting of the academic year on Sept. 5 in 400 Administration.

Chair Beth Seelig began the meeting with updates from PCSW’s various committees. Anne Kelley of faculty concerns said the committee’s study on female faculty tenure is closer to completion, thanks to help from Daniel Teodorescu of Institutional Planning and Research. The group is still working to obtain data from the School of Medicine, Kelley said, adding that committee member Susan Gilbert of Goizueta Business School would be examining the study’s research methods.

Kelley said the committee is interested in obtaining data as to why some female faculty leave Emory. Allison Dykes of the Association of Emory Alumni said the Well House facilitates focus groups for such research and that Institutional Advancement recently utilized its services for a study.

President Bill Chace was at the meeting and said he had been in discussions with Claudia Adkison from the School of Medicine regarding its data. He said Adkison was willing to work with the committee. “I would like to know why women and men leave,” he said, noting that one obstacle in obtaining such information is that it is labor intensive.

Staff concerns chair Susan Lee said the committee will convene its first meeting Sept. 17. She said the committee would continue to work on Mentor Emory and the alternative work arrangements study from two years ago. Student concerns chair Tiffany Worboy said the group had yet to meet and would do so later in the month.

Rosemarie Garland-Thomson, associate professor of women’s studies, spoke to the group about possible co-sponsorship of upcoming events. Garland-Thomson is responsible for an upcoming women’s studies colloquium exploring disabilities and the Holocaust. Members approved in-name sponsorship of the event.

The commission will meet again Oct. 3 at 3:30 p.m. in 400 Administration.

If you have a question or concern for PCSW, e-mail Beth Seelig at bseelig@emory.edu.