Northeastern ADVANCE aims to develop innovative ways to increase the representation and advancement of women in academic science and engineering careers, by promoting positive changes in the work environment that will advance all faculty in research environments that are increasingly interdisciplinary and global.

Northeastern ADVANCE, working within the Office of the Provost, will engage institutional leadership to build effective collaborative networks for faculty, in particular women, departments, and interdisciplinary programs that incorporate global opportunities. While driven by the need to increase participation and advancement of women faculty, the Northeastern ADVANCE efforts will benefit all faculty members and should serve as tools for initiatives at other academic institutions. The focus areas of Northeastern ADVANCE include:

• An adaptation of the University of Michigan developed STRIDE Recruitment Committee to support search committees in the hiring process.
• A series of activities to engage leadership among the campus leaders who are responsible for the Academic Plan and to enable the Northeastern ADVANCE program to be a catalyst for bringing gender balance and diversity into the center of the plan. Leaders and rising leaders will share best-practices related to unit leadership, leadership development, recruitment, and the advancement of faculty within interdisciplinary and international environments.
• Interdisciplinary Networking Workshops attached to existing regional center conferences to bring prospective faculty to campus for job application and interview preparation workshops and academic scholarly activities.
• A series of funding opportunities for academic departments, interdisciplinary programs, and Centers to strengthen national and international collaboration networks.

Northeastern University's ADVANCE Program is sponsored by NSF Grant #0811170.