About Us
Mission
The Council on the Status of Women is dedicated to advancing gender equity and creating an inclusive environment where all women—faculty, staff, and students—can thrive at NC State. Our mission encompasses advocating for women’s rights and professional advancement, upholding core values of fairness and respect, and actively promoting equality throughout the university community.
We serve as both a voice and a resource, providing strategic counsel on policies that affect women’s experiences, offering mentorship and professional development opportunities, and fostering leadership at all levels. Through collaborative partnerships across campus, we work to identify and address systemic barriers while celebrating the achievements and contributions of women in all areas of university life.
Our commitment extends beyond advocacy to action—creating tangible change through policy recommendations, supporting innovative programs that enhance women’s success, and building networks that connect women across disciplines and career stages. We believe that by empowering women and promoting inclusive practices, we strengthen the entire university community and advance NC State’s mission of excellence in education, research, and service.
Vision
The university community represents a dynamic ecosystem where equity, distinctiveness, and inclusivity serve as foundational pillars that actively expand pathways to success. In this environment, individuals from all backgrounds, identities, and experiences find meaningful opportunities to pursue their professional goals, realize their aspirations, and achieve excellence in their chosen fields.
Our commitment to equity ensures that every community member has fair access to resources, support systems, and advancement opportunities, regardless of their starting point or circumstances. We recognize that distinctiveness—encompassing differences in race, gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic background, sexual orientation, disability status, and countless other dimensions—brings invaluable perspectives that enrich our academic discourse, spark innovation, and strengthen our collective problem-solving capabilities.
Inclusivity goes beyond mere representation; it creates a culture where all voices are heard, valued, and integrated into the fabric of university life. This means fostering spaces where individuals feel a genuine sense of belonging, where their unique contributions are recognized, and where they can engage authentically in learning, research, and service.
When these principles work in harmony, they create a multiplier effect—transforming challenges into opportunities, breaking down traditional barriers, and opening new avenues for professional development and personal growth. This environment not only supports individual achievement but also cultivates leaders who carry these values forward, creating lasting positive change within their professions and communities beyond the university.
Charge
The Council provides advice and recommends actions in four key areas supporting women’s success–enhancing the campus atmosphere to promote all women’s potential, addressing policy matters including employment, salary equity, and career mobility for employees as well as student academic performance, guiding programs and activities impacting women, and strengthening campus networks for cooperation on women’s needs and opportunities.
Goals
- Professional Development and Awards – To enhance the professional environment through equitable, diverse, and inclusive opportunities for advancement of personal and professional skills and to recognize achievement, accomplishments, and contributions to society by providing incentives and awards representative of the diverse university community.
- Employment and Resources – Evaluate, publicize and recommend changes to policies, practices and culture which contribute to the inclusion and diversity of the talent pool within the university community.
- Health, Safety and Training – Evaluate, publicize and recommend changes to policies, practices and culture which contribute to the well-being and development/advancement of the university community.