The task force has no set time frame but will meet as needed in the coming months.

They will meet with departmental search committees and work with them in an attempt to recruit more women.

"Some departments have been much more successful than others at hiring women in the recent past, and I want to be certain that we learn from those successes, and use that knowledge to catalyze change elsewhere," Knowles wrote in his letter to the Faculty.

Knowles also wrote that he expected the group would consider subject definitions, search procedures, recruitment strategies and any other factors influencing appointments.

"It represents a real opportunity to transform the faculty in terms of diversity," says Doherty, who serves as a liaison between Knowles and the task force.

Many faculty members are optimistic about the new initiative's chances for success. Georgi says he thinks the task force's method of working directly with each department will allow it to overcome the difficulties other such attempts have encountered in the past.

"What can I say?" Georgi asks. "I'm an optimist or I wouldn't worry about this particular problem--this is definitely an issue for optimists."