Did you miss the @AEACSWEP panel yesterday? Don’t worry, it was recorded. But here is a thread with my key takeaways:

“Disparate Impacts” indeed.

Document it!

Now is the time for flexibility and for innovation. (1/15)

All of the panelists agreed that one of the things that they’ve been most struck by is the extraordinary variation that exists in individual experiences with the virus, working from home, childcare, research productivity, teaching online, everything. (2/15)

Some groups are experiencing worse outcomes overall than others. While there has been an increase in anxiety all around, @jevaygrooms found that Black and Latinx essential workers are experiencing higher increases in anxiety than their white counterparts. (3/15)

Similarly, @JennaEStearns found that all researchers saw a drop in research time, but parents’ dropped more, and mothers’ dropped most. She pointed out that this will exacerbate the existing gender gap in publications. (4/15)

Everyone on the panel agreed that junior faculty are facing a particularly difficult situation. @TrevonDLogan pointed out that the travel restrictions are going to significantly stymy junior research. Likely even more than we thought. () (5/15)

The face-to-face parts of conferences are often the most productive part. For example, as @JennaEStearns said, we’ll be losing out on learning through casual conversations with peers and senior faculty. (6/15)

The panelists encouraged everyone to document their current situation. @annhuffstevens said it was a good idea to keep a “COVID log” detailing the issues you’re facing throughout this time. (7/15)

@jevaygrooms pointed out that sharing our individual experiences during this time will likely require us to be more open about the details of our personal lives than we are normally comfortable with. (8/15)

@DaniaFrancis made the excellent suggestion that in addition to individuals producing documentation, departments, schools, and professional organizations should produce information describing the situation in their sphere. This could be included (e.g.) in tenure packets. (9/15)

Flexibility on the part of departments/schools and T&P committees is going to be critical. @TrevonDLogan said that the ideal situation would be that every promotion would be considered at an individual/ case-by-case basis but that is likely impractical. (10/15)

His and @jevaygrooms advice: carefully read and internalize the T&P rules and guidelines *at your institution.* Communicate with your chair, etc. and plan carefully for how you will meet the standards. (11/15)

Some positive takes! Now represents a time to try new things, improve on existing (or outdated) (or bad) methods. For example:
• @DaniaFrancis pointed out that in this new Zoom age, it’s more practical to reach out to senior researchers in your field and meet with them. (12/15)

• @TrevonDLogan sees an opportunity for more variety in seminar types, and said that he has run one focusing on works in progress.
• @jevaygrooms said that regardless of the new forms that seminars take on, we must hold them responsible for including diverse speakers. (13/15)

• @annhuffstevens pointed out that it’s easier to facilitate peer teaching evaluations in online classes.
• She also suggested now might be the moment to reconsider numerical course evals. (14/15)

Any errors in here are most certainly mine. The panelists were amazing and I can’t thank them (and @judy_chevalier ) enough for taking the time to speak. Also there were a million other brilliant things said that I didn’t include here, but I am happy to share my notes. (15/15)