Penn State report reviews women’s status at university

A report by a Penn State commission says that women have lagged behind in representation over the last decade in positions such as administrator and professor.

The Commission for Women released its “Status of Women at Penn State, 2001-11” report this month. Among notable findings was a decline in the representation of women in teaching positions as academic rank increased, from instructor to full professor.

The report also says there were still low numbers of female administrators, and that concentrations of women in undergraduate and graduate studies were below national trends.

In 2012, about 46 percent of the 84,500 students system-wide were women.

A commission co-chair says that while results were disappointing, the report would help generate meaningful discussion about building more diversity.