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Southern Oregon University

Diversity & Inclusion

Diversity and Inclusion Oversight Committee

 In September, 2010 the Diversity and Inclusion Oversight Committee was formed by President Mary Cullinan to coordinate institutional diversity efforts.  To guide our efforts, SOU is using D.G. Smith’s framework for diversity which was recommended by the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) in Making a Real Difference with Diversity: A Guide to Institutional Change.  Under this framework there are four dimensions:

  1. Institutional Viability and Vitality
  2. Education and Scholarship
  3. Access and Success
  4. Campus Climate and Intergroup Relations 

The Oversight Committee is composed of two co-chairs and the chairs of four sub-committees aligned with the four themes above.  The membership of the 2011-2012 academic year is:

Co-Chairs of the Oversight Committee

 Jonathan Eldridge, Vice President of Student Affairs                          eldridgej@sou.edu

 Kasey Mohammad, Associate Professor of English                           ksilem@gmail.com            

Sub-Committees and their Chairs                                            

Institutional Viability and Vitality Committee

Susan Walsh, Associate Provost                                                    walshs@sou.edu

This Committee looks at ways to imbed diversity and inclusivity into the policies and practices of the college.

Projects for this year include:

  • Policy and Procedure audit in reference to hiring of Faculty and Staff
  • Create a Faculty Search Handbook
  • Examine Demographic Data of Faculty and Staff to determine a baseline for future goals
    • -Examine data for rates of promotion as well
  • Draft a statement displaying  our commitment to diversity for all of our job postings
  • Examine major preference of students (overlap with Access and Success and Education and Scholarship)
  • Develop a Faculty and Staff of Color Support group

Education and Scholarship Committee

Roni Adams, Assistant Professor in Education                                     adamsr@sou.edu

 This committee looks at how we can infuse diversity and inclusion in our curriculum and in our pedagogy (teaching practices).

Projects for this year include: 

  • Create a professional development framework for the Instructional Institute pertaining to Diversity
  • Perform a Curriculum Audit to see where Diversity is infused within the Curriculum
  • Examine the diversity theme from HERI data to see what our values are as an institution

Access and Success Committee

Marjorie Trueblood-Gamble, Associate Director of Student Life- Diversity and Inclusion

truebloom@sou.edu

 This committee works on projects to improve the recruitment, retention, and success of underrepresented students.

Projects for this year include: 

  • Create a calling campaign to yield prospective Diversity Scholars
  • Create a letter of welcome for Enrolling Students of Color and their families
  • Cesar Chavez Leadership Conference Pilot
  • Examine Enrollment and Retention data to see if there are any attrition trends
  • Special Receptions during Orientation/Registration for Families and Students
  • Create a social justice focused pre-orientation program 
  • Continue Latino Family Day
  • Explore the creation of a multicultural focused living-learning floor

Campus Climate Committee

Carol Ferguson, Professor of Biology                                                      fergusonc@sou.edu

This committee determines ways to understand the climate of SOU and promotes campus conversations regarding diversity and inclusivity.        

Projects for this year include: 

  • Find a speaker/consultant to facilitate a conversation on climate for winter term
  • In coordination with the Campus Theme, create a panel to discuss civility on campus
  • Create a process for community forums when acts of bias occur
  • Research Climate Assessments at other Institutions to start the design of our own in house survey