Women's status in higher education: background and significance. Guiding assumptions and questions ; Historical context ; Legislative and policy initiatives ; Women in the curriculum ; Scholarship ; Organization of this monograph -- Framing women's status through multiple lenses. Why theory? ; Why feminist theory? ; Multiple frames -- Examining women's status: access and representation as key equity indicators. Women's access to postsecondary education ; Representation of women students in higher education ; Cocurricular representation ; Graduate students ; Faculty ; Women staff in higher education ; Women and governing boards -- Examining women's status: campus climate and gender equity. Classroom climate ; Climate beyond the classroom ; Climate for women staff, faculty, and administrators ; Salary equity -- Advancing women's status: analyzing predominant change strategies. Organizing schemes ; Enhancing gender equity -- Implications and recommendations. Recommendations for further research ; Implications ; Recommendations for practice.