News...
Can Institutions Achieve Diversity Without Giving Preference to Race, Gender, etc.?
BLACKSBURG, Va., Mar. 25, 2008— Juan E. Gilbert of Auburn University has developed a data mining tool called Applications Quest. This tool allows the use of race/ethnicity, gender, or any other attributes to be considered in admissions, school assignments, employee hiring, or other application processing areas without preferences to race or gender.
Gilbert will visit Virginia Tech, Tuesday, April 22, 2008, Brush Mountain Room A, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., to demonstrate how the tool works and lead a discussion on holistic approaches to achieving diversity in education. This session, “Achieving Diversity in the New Affirmative Action Era,” is part two of the Post-Michigan Series and is co-sponsored by the Office for Equal Opportunity, the Office of Multicultural Affairs, and the Center for Academic Enrichment and Excellence.
For registration information, contact Tabatha Stanley at 540-231-8440 or stanley4@vt.edu .
Information...
OMA's Mission...
To provide leadership and direction for the continuous assessment and improvement of university-wide efforts to create and sustain a more diverse and inclusive community of learners; to work collaboratively with other university units to build a capacity to recognize and value difference, encourage and support positive interactions between and among diverse populations, and maximize the benefits of a multicultural perspective; and to advise the President and university leadership on the policies, programs, practices and resources needed to achieve excellence, equity and effectiveness in the research, teaching and learning, and outreach activities of the university.
Assessment...
- Identify and assess the different diversity characteristics or features within the Virginia Tech campus community. Conduct an assessment of campus climate and inventory the assets and tools that exist to address climate-related issues.
- Use findings from studies and conversations with faculty, staff and students to advise the President and senior staff on matters related to diversity, multiculturalism, equity and inclusion.
- Determine the most effective ways to manage the rich variety of differences that is increasingly evident within the Virginia Tech student, faculty and staff populations.
- Be responsible for the implementation/management of Faces of Change: University Diversity Plan 2000-2005. It illuminates and supports the diversity and multicultural aspects of the mission, as well as the core values of the university. (This university diversity strategic plan was initiated in January 1999 and is closely aligned with the Implementation Plan of the Academic Agenda and the university's six strategic directions.)
- Collaborate with individuals and organizational units across the campus to assist and advocate for those persons who have special needs and/or significant cultural differences, and who may have concerns about their experiences at Virginia Tech. Help bring about positive changes in the living, learning and working environments for students, faculty and staff.
- Develop consensus on how the university defines and applies the values or principles of "equity", "diversity," and "multiculturalism."
- Increase the diversity on campus in terms of its faculty, students and staff, and promote the policies, programs and practices needed to support this effort.
- Work to identify or develop both human and fiscal resources, and the organizational infrastructure needed to sustain the gains made toward achieving a diverse, inclusive,and high quality educational programs.