Framingham State named top university for women

By Bella Grimaldi News Editor Framingham State University was named a top institution in the United States for Women by Newsweek magazine. According to a press release from the University, FSU was ranked as 5th statewide, tying with Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS). FSU is the only state university in the top five Massachusetts institutions. Provost Kristen Porter-Utley said in an email to The Gatepost, “It is nice to be ranked 5th out of [the] 56 colleges and universities in the state of Massachusetts recognized for this distinction. We are second in the state for the Pay and Policy score, and this is a result of great work by our Human Resources Office and other institutional leaders.” President Nancy Niemi said she hopes this communicates women are a part of the University’s identity and the “understanding that women’s education is extremely important and has been since we started 187 years ago.” Nationwide, the University tied for the rank of 69th out of over 751 institutions. Framingham State tied with MCPHS, Chestnut Hill College, and Concordia University-Saint Paul. Each of these institutions received an overall score of 72.1. Niemi said Newsweek reaching out and recognizing the University values women is an “important marker.” This is Newsweek’s first time releasing America's Best Colleges for Women list. Newsweek worked with Gender Fair to compile information about each institution and rank them. Gender Fair is a rating system established in 2016 that seeks “to advance equality and accountability in organizations by measuring how they treat people - through their policies, leadership, pay, and parental support - and recognizing those that set the standard for fairness.” The scores for this ranking are based on four categories: Leadership, Pay and Policy, Safety, and Opportunity. According to Newsweek, the scores are based on data pulled from the U.S. Department of Education. This includes information from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System and the Campus Safety and Security Database. Framingham State scored a 75 in the Leadership category, 78 in Pay and Policy, 94 in Safety, and 39 in Opportunity. Porter-Utley said she would like to improve in the Opportunity category by ensuring women of all backgrounds are given the same advantages and are supported. Niemi said since she has been at FSU, she has endeavored to build on an environment where women are powerful and can “harness what they learn and build their lives going forward.” Jeffrey Coleman, vice president of Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement, said it’s clear the leadership team at the University is different from other institutions because FSU has a majority of women on the Executive Staff. Coleman said he believes the University can improve its ranking by continuing initiatives that foster “an environment that’s affirming and welcoming for individuals of all backgrounds and identities.” The Newsweek website states, “The ranking identifies colleges that have established the structural elements necessary to foster education and employment for women. Only institutions meeting specific criteria for size and academic roles are included, ensuring the results reflect meaningful progress toward gender equity in higher education.” Porter-Utley said, “Everyone at Framingham State has the opportunity to realize success, and the University works to amplify the excellence of our women students, staff, and faculty.” Within each ranking, Newsweek also displays the level of reproductive health care accessibility in the state where the institution is located. In the listing for each institution, there is a State Reproductive Status category where the accessibility is shown on a scale of 1 to 5. According to Newsweek, a 5 means “Reproductive health services, including abortion, are allowed and protected under state statutes or constitutions. Additional laws and policies expand access to related care.” A status of 1 means, “Abortion is prohibited by law and subject to criminal penalties.” Massachusetts institutions fall under a status of 4. According to Newsweek, this means, “Abortion is legal under state law, but access is subject to certain restrictions.” Information in this category is based on data from the Center for Reproductive Rights. Niemi said she has mixed feelings about rankings in general, but the University is taking advantage of this recognition because it identifies the importance of women in education. Porter-Utley said, “With any ranking, we take it with a grain of salt and recognize the limitations of such an analysis while also appreciating our history of opening the doors of college to women at a time when many didn’t have access and how that shapes our current mission of access and accessibility.” Dan Magazu, executive director of Marketing & Communications, said the University doesn’t have a relationship with Newsweek beyond the stories or rankings in which the magazine has included FSU in the past. Magazu said there was no financial obligation or solicitation for this ranking. According to Magazu, there is no cost to promote the ranking, but if the University wanted to display the Newsweek badge, there would be fees. The University will not be paying to use the Newsweek emblem. He said Newsweek contacted him on Jan. 21 about the ranking. “I didn’t even know it was a thing until they reached out and said, ‘Hey, we did this ranking and you guys are included.’ So sort of like a pleasant surprise,” he said. Sophomore Brynn Danley said she was not aware the University is ranked highly for women. She said, “I will say as a woman, I feel pretty safe to walk across campus alone at night.” Junior Indigo Allain said, “As a woman, it makes me very happy knowing FSU was recognized as a top institution for women. “It makes me feel appreciated and valued as a student,” she said. Allain added, “I believe there’s always room for improvement and continuing to educate students and faculty on the importance of gender equality.” Sophomore Elizabeth Rivers said she believes the recognition is “very accurate. We have a female president here at FSU, and I definitely feel the woman power.” She said, “I have never felt discriminated against, especially for being a woman. I have always felt inspired and empowered by other female upperclassmen as well as professors.” Rivers said she does not believe there are any ways the University could improve because the University provides many opportunities for women. Sophomore Mya Secka said, “Especially given the history of how this was originally an all-women’s college, the fact that it still reflects today is an amazing sentiment and very empowering.” She said the University’s history as a women's college has been discussed in her classes, including the women who have made impacts at FSU. She said one way the University could improve is by making the information on the University’s history more accessible. Secka said, “I think it would not only educate the others about the school’s history, but keep the stories of the women that came here before us alive!” Sophomore Emma Schor said, “I know FSU used to be an all-women’s college and it allows others to accommodate and recognize the needs of women. … It helps me be more comfortable that FSU understands women - especially those who may be assigned female at birth but don’t identify as a woman.” She said she believes one way the University could improve is by providing free menstrual products in bathrooms instead of charging for them in restrooms.