The same bonuses of networking and peer support also can be derived from universitywide committees, especially for faculty members unfortunate enough to be situated in a department with an unsupportive or even downright hostile environment. University committees can bring together colleagues from diverse cultures that ordinarily do not interact.
As a former chairwoman of the Brown University Faculty Committee on the Status of Women and current chairwoman of the Brown University Faculty Committee on Educational Legislation, I can attest tothe educational and psychological benefits of university committee service, in addition to the personal satisfaction of being able to make a small contribution toward faculty governance.
