Planning
Group Meeting Schedule http://scholar.harvard.edu/goldin/UWE webpage contains schedule, participant
bios and summary
facts |
9:00am |
Welcome and
individual introductions. Working
breakfast at NBER 1050 Massachusetts Ave., 3rd floor conference
room. Group
Discussion I:
The Problem. What do you think
is the “problem” with regard to the economics major and women? What has your department (or you) tried to
increase women’s involvement in economics and with what degree of
success? Are business majors a good
substitute for economics? |
10:00am |
Presentation: Claudia Goldin, “Gender and
the Undergraduate Economics Major.”
“Challenge” grants from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Relevant
information is posted on http://scholar.harvard.edu/goldin/UWE |
10:30am |
Group
Discussion II:
Designing the “Challenge.” What is the range
of possible interventions (treatments)?
Should institutions be given a suggested list of interventions, a
required list or no list? What should
the timing be (e.g., announcement in January 2015, selection in March,
meeting with “treatment” schools in May, start of
treatment in Fall 2015)? |
11:15am |
Break |
11:30am |
Group
Discussion III:
Selecting “Challenge” institutions. Who should be
invited to take part in the “Challenge”?
What should the size cutoff be in terms of the three-year average for
number of economics BAs? Who should be
the contact person at each institution?
What should the initial letter/e-mail of invitation state (e.g.,
should it mention the three-year conversion rate of the institution?) When should a meeting occur with the
principals at each of the selected institutions? Relevant
information is on http://scholar.harvard.edu/goldin/UWE |
12:30pm |
Working lunch |
|
Group
Discussion VI:
Setting up the “Challenge.” Should the
“Challenge” be for one or two years (tradeoff would be the number of
institutions that could be selected since funds exist for 40 institutions
that are given $10K each year)? Could
a school create a good intervention for just one year? What would determine whether a second year
would be granted? What would or should
the funds be spent on (e.g., outside speakers, group dinners, additional
counselling, anything at all)? Can you
envision problems in awarding funds to a department or to an undergraduate
office? |
1:30pm |
Break |
1:45pm |
Group
Discussion V:
Evaluating the “Challenge” as an RCT Which should be
the control institutions? Using
institutions that were lotteried out or using
“observationally identical” institutions from the IPEDS? Under either circumstance there would be
the problem of waiting four or five years before knowing the number of BAs
awarded in economics. If the control
institutions are those that were lotteried out
there is the possible use of “declarations” of the intended major for both
controls and treatments. Problems in
getting cooperation of controls. Would
small financial incentives work? |
3:00pm |
Adjourn |