Big Five firm Deloitte & Touche has announced the launch of a new initiative called Vision 2005. The program provides a new set of goals for the company with the objective of doubling the rate at which women are admitted to partner or director positions by 2005.

The current female partner/director admission rate at D&T is 18 percent. The company expects this rate to reach 35% by 2005. James E. Copeland, Jr., chief executive officer of Deloitte & Touche and its global parent, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, believes that the leadership of women "will make our firm a better place to work."

"Over the past eight years we have more than doubled the percentage of our women partners and directors, and we currently have the highest percentage of women partners and directors among the Big Five professional services firms," said Mr. Copeland.

Vision 2005 is built around the following commitments:

• Achieving a 35 percent female partner admission rate by 2005
• Securing representation of women in leadership positions that is proportionate to the percentage of women partners and directors
• Expansion of the current leadership succession planning program to create new opportunities for women
• Designation of senior partners and directors to serve as mentors and coaches for women at Deloitte & Touche