Ben Calabretta, student engagement coordinator in the Center for Civic Engagement,
shares his group’s list of ideas. (Photos by Steve Nakata, Office of Students Affairs
and Enrollment)
shares his group’s list of ideas. (Photos by Steve Nakata, Office of Students Affairs
and Enrollment)
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Week of events
 This article is part of a series in WSU News this week coinciding with events to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Office of Multicultural Student Services at WSU. For a list of the week’s events, go here.
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PULLMAN, Wash. Alex Tan has heard for years that Washington State University can never achieve true faculty/staff diversity because of where it is located and because too few qualified diverse candidates apply.
As WSU’s Diversity Faculty Fellow, Tan isn’t buying it. Neither are faculty, staff and students, according to their comments at Wednesday’s “Creating Our Diversity Vision for the Next 25 Years” forum.
About 25 people gathered to share ideas on how WSU can achieve more diversity among its faculty and staff – something they said is essential to better reflect the demographics of society and provide a more enriching education to students.
Tan pointed to the progress WSU has made in diversifying its student body as an example of what can be accomplished. This fall, 22 percent of students are multicultural – a mark that many would have considered impossible to achieve 25 years ago.
Strategic plan to diversify
He started off the discussion by informing everyone that WSU does have a strategic plan for diversifying the faculty. Some of the plan’s 30 action items have already been implemented – mostly changes to recruitment policies and procedures.
“Those action items we were able to accomplish with little or no funding,” said Tan. “But some of the most critical action items have not been implemented and we welcome your ideas and your help.”
Some of those include further diversifying the curriculum to attract more diverse faculty, establishing a mentor program for faculty and staff, and creating other programs that support outreach and retention efforts.
Anyone interested in reviewing WSU’s strategic plan for increasing faculty diversity is encouraged to contact Tan at alextan@wsu.edu.
Small groups generate ideas
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Christine Oakley, director of global
learning in International Programs, voices her ideas for increasing faculty and staff diversity. |
The participants broke into small group discussions that generated a list of ideas including:
1. Pullman, Moscow and the two universities should work together to make our communities more welcoming to diverse faculty/staff.
2. Do a better job of sharing stories about the struggles and challenges diverse students, faculty and staff are experiencing so more people can be aware and take action.
3. Provide additional diversity training putting more emphasis on why it is important.
4. Acknowledge the diversity that is already here and celebrate it.
2. Do a better job of sharing stories about the struggles and challenges diverse students, faculty and staff are experiencing so more people can be aware and take action.
3. Provide additional diversity training putting more emphasis on why it is important.
4. Acknowledge the diversity that is already here and celebrate it.
Lap-Pun Lam, director of Institutional Research, admitted he is relatively new to WSU. He is learning that WSU has implemented changes to policies and procedures and provided many workshops and trainings over the years.
“But people aren’t paying attention to the real meaning of it all,” Lam said. “We need to ask ourselves what does it mean to be a Coug? Is this a core value for us?”
Taking responsibility
Forum participants watched a video showing people of all walks of life sharing inspirational messages they wrote on the palm of their hands. Following the video, participants were asked what they would write on their own hands.
One person said a vow to take responsibility for his/her own destiny and play a role in diversity education. Another said to engage in conversations with more students in places like the International Student Center or Office of Multicultural Student Services (MSS). Another said to speak out more in the face of injustices.
Dennis Denman, a residential education advisor, reminded everyone that the forum came about because it was part of the MSS 25th Anniversary celebration.
“But it’s not just an MSS party,” he said. “It is a WSU party that MSS is hosting, and all of us need to take responsibility to work toward change.”
Embrace or fear?
“I would say I’m very proud of WSU and the progress we’ve made,” said J. Manuel Acevedo, director of MSS. “Diversity is a reality. The question is what are we going to do with it – embrace it or be afraid of it?”
A third and final “Creating a Vision for the Next 25 Years” forum will be held Thursday at noon in the CUB Butch’s Den (L60). The focus of discussion will be on the advancement of diversity for the broader community.
The forums are sponsored by the CUB, WSU Libraries, Center for Civic Engagement, MSS, and At Home in the World.