Monday, May 09, 2005
On this day:

Auburn's "Strategic Diversity Plan"

Auburn University is developing a strategic diversity plan. It is available online here.

You get a sense for what's in store from this excerpt:


This is a living document which will be reviewed annually. Revisions, updates and additions will be made as necessary to continue embedding diversity into the culture at Auburn University. The report is meant to be inclusive of all underrepresented and minority groups through the use of the terms "people of color/minorities," "women," "people with disabilities" and "other underrepresented groups."
Some of the tactics for implementing the plan are:
  • Establish and publish an annual Diversity Calendar of events, celebrations, historic dates and holidays, which reflects all elements of diversity.
  • Implement a career development program to allow women, people of color/minorities and members of other underrepresented groups the opportunity to position themselves for advancement within Auburn University.
  • Incorporate diversity as a performance dimension within the annual employee performance appraisal process for all faculty, administrative/professional and university staff.
  • Implement a mandatory supervisory training program for all employees with direct reports to include diversity sensitivity and affirmative action/equal employment opportunity.
  • Conduct diversity training for student leadership, i.e. SGA, IFC, Resident Hall
    Leaders, Pan Hellenic Council, etc.
  • Conduct diversity and multiculturalism training for faculty and staff. Participation is to be tracked and tied to performance appraisal.
  • Broaden the University curriculum to include multicultural studies such as Global
    Studies, Africana Studies, Hispanic-American studies, Asian-American studies and Women’s Studies.
  • Create a Diversity Education Course requirement and allow students to select from University approved diversity courses and study abroad options to meet the requirement.
  • Include a column entitled "Discussions on Diversity" authored by the President, Provost or their designees in regularly published documents as appropriate.
Sigh.