Institution Profile: University of Wisconsin–Madison

• Between 2010-2012, under the leadership of psychologist Prof. Fiona Devine, the University of Wisconsin–Madison conducted an experiment around unconscious gender bias training among faculty.
• 92 Departments were randomized into two groups – a control group of 46 departments was given no unconscious bias training, while an experimental group of faculty from 46 other departments were given 5 ‘bias disruptor’ tools and training devised by Prof Devine’s team.
• The purpose was to contrast the impact of unconscious bias training on faculty behavior and climate across the two groups, including faculty hiring outcomes.
• The experimental group’s hiring rate for women increased from 33 to 47 percent (with 31 additional women faculty members hired), while the control group’s hiring rate remained fixed at 33 percent.