2006-2007 Diversity Initiative Activities

The University of Northern Colorado’s campus-wide diversity initiative aims to foster a campus community that is inclusive and welcoming of diversity in the broadest sense.  The initiative is working to build a campus culture that attracts diverse, competent students and employees, values their diversity, treats them with dignity and respect, and promotes their success. It has four primary elements:

  • Climate—We will foster a climate that both recognizes similarities and appreciates differences.
  • Composition—We will work to attract and support a diverse campus community of students, faculty, staff and administrators. 
  • Classroom—Faculty will take the lead in integrating diverse content and teaching methods into the classroom. 
  • Community—Because the university is part of the larger community, we will invite community members to work with us.

A Diversity Advisory Council, consisting of community and business leaders, provides external advice and guidance for the initiative.  There also will be an internally staffed Diversity Team to support the initiative.

Climate Activities

2006/2007

  • Fall 2006 Consultant Focus Groups – Kebaya Coaching~Consulting and Crochet Consulting Group met with over 400 staff, faculty, and students.
    • Met with leadership and governance groups, academic and administrative programs and units, and open forums.
    • People were asked to comment on perceived biases at UNC, issues that need to be addressed, and examples of positive and negative behaviors they had experienced
    • Members of the campus were invited to give feedback on professional. development and assessment needs and to develop presentations about what their unit has, is, and/or plans regarding diversity efforts.
  • Spring 2007 Diversity Climate Survey – Study being led by Dr. Susan Hutchinson, Applied Statistics and Research Methods
    • All students and employees will be invited to participate.
    • Survey developed at Virginia Tech and includes four instruments with core questions that can be compared across groups as well as group-specific questions for undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and staff.
    • February 2007 – all currently enrolled UNC students invited to participate in an on-line climate survey.  Survey closed March 7.  2653 surveys were completed yielding a 25% response rate.  Data will be disaggregated by ethnicity, gender, and other demographic characteristics for the analysis and results.
    • March 2007 – all full and part time faculty will be invited to complete a survey.
    • April 2007 – all full and part time staff will have opportunity to complete a survey.
    • Summer 2007 – data will be analyzed by Dr. Hutchinson with assistance from the Director of Assessment, Kim Black, and an advanced doctoral student, Karen Raymond.

2007/2008

  • Professional development activities will be developed and implemented in direct response to issues identified in the qualitative and quantitative assessments conducted in 2006/2007.

Composition

2006/2007

  • Academic planning process currently underway is expected to address issues of student, staff, faculty, and administrator diversity.
  • American Association of State Colleges and Universities Hispanic/Latino Student Success Study
    • Five UNC campus administrators participating in national study of colleges and institutions that have demonstrated success in improving graduation rates among Hispanic/Latino students.
    • Participants visited successful institutions during Spring 2007 and will present a report to inform University leaders in April.
  • Diversity Advisory Council
    • A group of external community and business leaders has been formed to advise the University on its diversity initiative.
    • The University will consult with the council members for strategies for diversifying employee recruitment and retention practices

2007/2008

  • Fall 2007 – Comprehensive institutional analysis will be conducted to provide program-level data regarding minority student outcomes.
  • Spring 2008 – Institutional data as well as climate assessment data will be used to develop external funding proposals to support programs and services designed to address identified needs.

Classroom Activities

2006/2007

  • Spring 2007 – Diversity Research Initiative.  Internal funds allocated to support nine $5000 research grants for faculty and staff to conduct research on diversity in education as it relates to curriculum, pedagogy, and student learning outcomes.
  • Spring 2007 – Diversity in Education Colloquium.  First annual Diversity in Education Colloquium will be held during Academic Excellence Week (April 10)  to showcase recent faculty and staff research and best practices related to diversity curriculum, teaching and learning practices, and student learning outcomes.

2007/2008

  • Diversity grant recipients will be invited to participate in development of larger, institution-wide proposals for federal grants and private donors.
  • Spring 2008 – 2nd Annual Diversity in Education Colloquium.  2006/2007 diversity grant recipients will present findings from funded research projects as part of colloquium.

Community Activities

2006/2007

  • Diversity Advisory Council comprised of community and business leaders formed to advise University on the following issues:
    • Attracting and retaining a more diverse workforce will be critical to our future success.
    • Identifying the skills and real world experiences our graduates need to be successful in meeting the demands of an increasingly diverse and global society.
    • Helping us identify areas for investment, research and program development.
    • Providing feedback on our efforts to create cultural awareness among majority populations.
    • Advising on our outreach efforts with the surrounding community.
    • Providing objective external review of our progress toward achieving our diversity goals and objectives.
  • Dialogue on Intercultural Relations – event that brought together members of the Greeley/Weld community to discuss improving relations.

2007/2008

  • Northern Colorado Summit – currently pursuing discussion about convening a summit that would bring together community, business, education, law enforcement, health care, and other interested parties to formulate partnerships and strategies for addressing community needs.