Presentation to Faculty Senate

February 8, 2007

Four Imperatives that MakeDiversity UC’s Compelling Interest

Learning Imperative* Economic Imperative* Democracy Imperative* UC|21 Strategic Vision

Note: First three are suggested by the NASULGC Report, Now is the Time

Our Definition of DiversityThis task force recognizes a very broad and inclusive concept of diversity that should include commonly recognized considerations such as race, ethnicity, gender, age, disability status, socioeconomic status, sexual identity, sexual orientation, religion, and regional or national origin. Our charge, however, asked us to focus specifically upon racial and ethnic diversity at UC, and we have done so. Going forward, we want to emphasize that UC’s concept of diversity should retain the capacity to grow with our understanding.

Task Force’s RecommendedFive Initiatives

Institutional Structure and Framework Initiative Community and Climate Initiative Student Initiative Faculty Initiative Staff Initiative

Institutional Structure and Framework Initiative

Ann Welsh Chair, Institutional Structure and Framework Subcommittee

Institutional Structure and Framework

Immediate Recommendations: Implement an integrated institutional

plan for diversity.Engage the university in a process to

define diversityCreate a senior-level position of Director of DiversityEstablish an all-university Committee

on DiversityDevelop, implement and monitor a

communication plan.

Community and Climate Initiative

Mitchel LivingstonChair, Community and Climate Subcommittee

Community and ClimateImmediate Recommendations: Revise University Mission Statement to

include a commitment to diversity. Reaffirm the university’s commitment

to the existence of AACRC and clarify issue of a multicultural center for broader interests.

Share and monitor findings from the National Survey of Student

Engagement (NSSE) and Student Satisfaction Inventory (SSI).

Student Initiative

Mitchel LivingstonCo-Chair, Student Recruitment and Retention Subcommittee

Jerry TsaiCo-Chair, Student Recruitment and Retention Subcommittee

Student InitiativeImmediate Recommendations: Develop additional scholarship options

marketed to students of color that don’t have requirements of Turner Scholarships.

Support the initiatives of STRIVE, Summer Bridge, Gear Up, M2SE, Ohio Core and other programs aimed at academic preparedness Enhance partnerships with Cincinnati

State, Sinclair, regional campuses

Faculty Initiative

John BrackettChair, Faculty Recruitment and Retention Subcommittee

Faculty InitiativeImmediate Recommendations Create a more viable Department of African and African American Studies. Increase the budget in the Provost’s Office to encourage and facilitate diversity in hiring. Enhance faculty search committees … to make sure that no search goes forward without documented best efforts to create a diverse pool. Enhance retention of African American and other underrepresented faculty by making more than one hire at a time …using mentors/ambassadors… performing exit interviews, etc.

Staff Initiative

Alecia TrammerChair, Staff Recruitment and

Retention Committee

Staff Initiative

Immediate Recommendations Enhance employee orientation in general, but also to incorporate diversity as a core value. Improve workforce planning.

Nancy Zimpher President

www.uc.edu/diversitytaskforce