User:Jpfrimpong/Barbara W. Newell

Career: University of Michigan, HEW Complaint
Newell began her role as as acting vice president of student affairs at University of Michigan in 1970, becoming the first woman to reach that rank in the university's history.

Reflecting on her observation of the role of women at University of Michigan, she stated “Women are traditionally marginal workers. They're hired with soft money grants (as opposed to appropriations), whose source cannot be depended on from year to year and they're non-tenured."

Newell was asked by Robben Wright Fleming, former president of the university, to put efforts towards increasing the presence of racial minorities in the student body and faculty. Newell had plans to address gender based discrimination in the hiring process of faculty and administration.

In 1970, a complaint from the Department of Health. Education and Welfare (HEW) was drafted to look into the university's hiring process for discriminatory practices during a time of civil unrest.

PROBE was a group of researchers in Ann Arbor, Michigan, organizing against gender inequality in higher education, specifically at University of Michigan. PROBE supported the HEW complaint and demonstrated interest in receiving data on personnel demographics and salaries.

Newell suggested to Fleming and promised to PROBE the creation of the Commission on Women, though PROBE pointed out that the commission formed out "vaguely reminiscent of those used by traditional authoritarian, bureaucratic males."

Newell became chairman of the commission of women in January 7, 1971. Less than a week later, the commission had its first meeting where they outlined goals to: achieve salary equity, back pay women who had experienced discrimination at the university and put efforts towards hiring and promoting women in faculty. The Commission of Women was not allocated funds for a budget nor did it have any real power within the university. Administration had agreed to grant members paid time off during meetings.

In 1971, Newell stepped down as commission chair at the University of Michigan to become associate provost at the University of Pittsburgh.