2008 Woodie Awards
University unveils diversity plan
Devi Sampat
Staff Writer
Issue date: 10/15/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
In efforts to spread diversity throughout campus life and inside the classroom, the University of South Alabama created and implemented a new draft of the strategic diversity plan. According to the plan, South Alabama specifically seeks to "increase diversity in all areas of the University, with a particular emphasis on African-Americans." The strategic diversity committee, designed to create and implement objectives pertaining to diversity, recognizes and extends the term of "the under-represented population to include those persons whose reputation at the University of South Alabama has traditionally been less than optimal for the University to create a fully diverse, thriving community of learning."
Keith Ayers, director of public relations and diversity plan committee member, notes that this year's diversity draft is not substantially different from previous years, but simply a continuation.
"From the beginning, South Alabama has been an integrated and diverse campus," Ayers said. "By putting the draft on the Web site, our overall purpose this year is to state how we are making this campus more diverse for everyone."
The committee also plans to increase diversity through new faculty hiring. The plan focuses on objectives ranging from strengthening recruitment and retention of a diverse population of students and faculty to "educating all students from an increasingly multicultural society in Alabama and continuing to foster respect for the multicultural communities."
According to the draft, a major goal of the diversity plan is to "increase resources in an effort to provide more support to economically disadvantaged students in their studies at the University of South Alabama." The plan specifically is designed to increase sources of direct funding to underprivileged students by targeting programs sponsored by research activities at USA. Money from research will also help to provide professional development, training advancement, and opportunities for current and prospective University faculty staff.
While the plan focuses heavily on ways to improve diversity in the University itself, it also reaches out to the communities. The community leadership committee, composed of leaders from across the University's geographic area, may be set up to represent and provide increased recognition to their specific areas.
To ensure that all goals are being met, the strategic plan also states that the University will maintain its advisory committee founded in 2002, and its sole purpose shall be to "effectively provide input and guidance for the future progress of diversity programs."
The strategic diversity plan draft can be viewed online at http://www.usouthal.edu or on display at the USA Main Library, the Human Resources Department at USA Children's and Women's Hospital and the Human Resources Department at the USA Medical Center through Oct.14.
Keith Ayers, director of public relations and diversity plan committee member, notes that this year's diversity draft is not substantially different from previous years, but simply a continuation.
"From the beginning, South Alabama has been an integrated and diverse campus," Ayers said. "By putting the draft on the Web site, our overall purpose this year is to state how we are making this campus more diverse for everyone."
The committee also plans to increase diversity through new faculty hiring. The plan focuses on objectives ranging from strengthening recruitment and retention of a diverse population of students and faculty to "educating all students from an increasingly multicultural society in Alabama and continuing to foster respect for the multicultural communities."
According to the draft, a major goal of the diversity plan is to "increase resources in an effort to provide more support to economically disadvantaged students in their studies at the University of South Alabama." The plan specifically is designed to increase sources of direct funding to underprivileged students by targeting programs sponsored by research activities at USA. Money from research will also help to provide professional development, training advancement, and opportunities for current and prospective University faculty staff.
While the plan focuses heavily on ways to improve diversity in the University itself, it also reaches out to the communities. The community leadership committee, composed of leaders from across the University's geographic area, may be set up to represent and provide increased recognition to their specific areas.
To ensure that all goals are being met, the strategic plan also states that the University will maintain its advisory committee founded in 2002, and its sole purpose shall be to "effectively provide input and guidance for the future progress of diversity programs."
The strategic diversity plan draft can be viewed online at http://www.usouthal.edu or on display at the USA Main Library, the Human Resources Department at USA Children's and Women's Hospital and the Human Resources Department at the USA Medical Center through Oct.14.
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