Endorsing the Pasadena Recommendations for Gender Equality in Astronomy

The Pasadena Recommendations were unanimously endorsed by the American Astronomical Society (AAS) Council on Sunday January 9, 2005, in San Diego, CA. This work was a collaborative effort made by many attendees of the "Women in Astronomy II: Ten Years After" meeting held in June 2003 in Pasadena with input and comments from the entire astronomical community. This document was presented to the members of the AAS Council by the 2003-2005 committee members of the AAS Committee on the Status of Women in Astronomy. Further suggestions on implementing these recommendations may be found on our website: http://www.aas.org/comms/cswa.

We would like endorsing institutions to do the following:

  • Discuss the Pasadena Recommendations within their department
  • Post them prominently within their department.
  • Make your university administration aware of the recommendations.
  • Endorse the principles of the Pasadena Recommendations by contacting us.

Some departments, after discussion, find that, while they support the principles of the Pasadena Recommendations, some of the details may present an obstacle to endorsement. Rather than force such departments to decline to endorse the Pasadena Recommendations, we now offer the option of qualified endorsement.

In the list below, departments marked with asterisks have endorsed the Pasadena Recommendation with qualifications, which are described in the linked documents. We hope that these postings will lead to further discussion of ways to promote equity in hiring and promotion in astronomy.

Please email the CSWA Webmaster, whose contact information can be found here. We will then place your institution amongst the list below. If you have any questions regarding the endorsement, please email the CSWA Chair, whose contact information can be found here.

List of Endorsing Institutions: (Presented Alphabetically)

  • Associated Universities, Inc.

  • Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy

  • The Observatories of the Carnegie Institution of Washington

  • Columbia University, Department of Astronomy

  • Gemini Observatory

  • Louisiana State University, Department of Physics and Astronomy

  • *Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Physics (qualifications MS Word)

  • National Optical Astronomy Observatory

  • National Solar Observatory

  • Ohio University, Department of Physics and Astronomy

  • Smith College, Department of Astronomy

  • Space Telescope Science Institute

  • University of Arizona, Department of Astronomy and Steward Observatory

  • University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Department of Astronomy

  • University of Texas, Austin, Department of Astronomy

  • Wellesley College, Astronomy Department