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Nebraska's Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education

More women in Nebraska higher ed, but faculty pay gap widens between the sexes

The Coordinating Commission's associate director, Carna Pfeil, and its research coordinator, Barbara McCuen, presented at the annual Women in Educational Leadership Conference, held Oct. 11 at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Their presentation was titled "Statewide Analysis and Implications of Increasing Numbers of Women at Nebraska Colleges and Universities." Among the findings presented by Pfeil and McCuen:

  • More low-income females than males are working out of poverty by going on to college;
  • Increasing numbers of women are being educated for leadership roles in business, education, healthcare and public administration;
  • Increasing numbers of women are qualified for faculty and administration positions in higher education. As a result of this trend, more women are on the faculties of Nebraska's colleges and universities.
  • However, the difference between the average salaries earned by men and women has increased 13 percent during the past 10 years. Full-time male faculty members now earn, on average, $14,000 more than their female colleagues.

The Women in Educational Leadership Conference attracts K-12 and higher-education leaders from across the country. Started in 1987, the conference has drawn attendees and presenters from all 50 states and 11 foreign countries.