Diversity Plan for the School of Education

Introduction

The National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) defines diversity as “differences among groups of people and individuals based on ethnicity, race, socioeconomic status, gender, exceptionalities, language, religion, sexual orientation and geographical area.” NCATE defines multicultural perspectives as ‘an understanding of the social, political, economic, academic, and historical constructs of ethnicity, race, socioeconomic status, gender, exceptionalities, language, religion, sexual orientation, and geographical area.” (Professional Standards for the Accreditation of Schools, Colleges, and Departments of Education, NCATE 2001).

Purpose of Diversity Plan

In creating an understanding of self and others the School of Education’s mission focuses on preparing Professional for the Future who interact with a dynamic educational system which exists in a dynamic society. By educating, and nurturing pre-service and graduate education students and by modeling best practices, which are based on research and standards, we are committed to continuous learning and purposeful reflection, always moving toward working collaboratively with internal and external constituencies. We are increasingly seeking to enhance the awareness, understanding and sensitivity of our students. The School of Education strives to provide an atmosphere that will nurture the capacity in each education student to appreciate the complexity and diversity of world cultures. This quality education is fostered by a faculty and staff distinguished for their continuing commitment to excellence. This diversity plan, which includes goals, objectives and an action plan, represents the school’s continued commitment to excellence in diversity.

Goals/Objective/Plan

The goals are the broad overarching challenges that when accomplished indicate success in creating a diverse rich environment. The objectives are the more specific expected outcomes. The Action Plan is a specific set of steps to set the initiative in motion and assist in accomplishing the objectives, which will accomplish the goals.

The Diversity Plan for the School of Education is comprised of five major goals. The goals are:

1. enhance and sustain the composition of high quality faculty and students from diverse backgrounds
2. create a more inclusive school climate
3. increase understanding of existing knowledge about diversity in educational programs through curriculum
4. enhance diversity and global awareness through field and clinical experiences
5. enhance educational opportunities for diverse populations in k-12 schools through the use of developmentally appropriate curriculum, knowledge, skills and dispositions designed to ensure learning for all students

Goal 1: Enhance and sustain the composition of high quality faculty and students from diverse backgrounds

Objective: A. to encourage diverse representation on search committees

B. to support the search process by encouraging applicants from diverse and highly qualified backgrounds including follow-up studies

C. to promote the “grow your own” programs as a viable means of recruiting and retaining diverse faculty and staff

D. to support departmental efforts that actively attract, recruit and retain a diverse student population

E. to identify geographic areas that contain a significant population of diverse students

F. to establish multicultural scholarships designed to attract the top minority students in the state

G. to develop procedures to track progress and retention of undergraduate and graduate minority students

Goal 2: Create a more inclusive school climate

Objective: A. to establish and encourage a clear commitment to the value of diversity

on the part of all members of the school of education community

B. to develop a diverse school of education climate for living, learning and

working

Goal 3: Increase the understanding of existing knowledge about diversity in educational programs through curriculum

Objective: A. to strengthen library holdings of diverse materials

B. to expand the school’s academic programs and course offerings to

include programs and courses in diversity

C. to enhance the knowledge and skills of the faculty for including diversity in

the instructional process by attending lectures, seminars and workshops on

diversity

D. to assess the degree to which the current undergraduate and graduate

curriculum includes course work and assessment

E. to broaden exposure through on-line course content, distance learning and

satellite campuses

F. to facilitate the creation of course requirements in programs that have a

distinctive diversity focus

Goal 4: Enhance diversity and global awareness through field and clinical experiences

Objective: A. to focus on the development of diversity in field experiences

B. to focus on the development of diversity in internship experiences

Goal 5: Enhance educational opportunities for diverse populations in k-12 schools through the use of developmentally appropriate curriculum, knowledge, skills and dispositions designed to ensure learning for all students

Objective: A. to foster the process of connecting learning theory to practice

B. to observe and measure a student’s dispositions for the profession of teaching

Goal 1: Enhance and sustain the composition of high quality faculty and students from diverse backgrounds

Objective A: to encourage diverse representation on search committees

Actions	Timeline	Responsible Party	Resources
Assess the present representation of search committees on hiring	April 2005- June 2005	NCATE steering Committee, Dean and Academic VP	Affirmative Action Office List of recent search committees
Follow the university and/or school of education procedures for employment, as presented by the Affirmative Action Office	Upon completion of the assessment	NCATE steering committee, Dean of School of Education and Academic VP	Dean School of Education, Academic VP, Affirmative Action Office
Develop and implement an orientation program for minority faculty, staff and students	August & January Annual	Affirmative Action Office, Dean School of Education, Department Heads	Office of Diversity, Affirmative Action office
Provide mentors for new faculty/staff and students	August & January Annual	Department Heads or Designee	Office of Diversity, Student Services and Departments
Expand existing support to meet departmental, faculty and student needs	Ongoing	Dean, Department Heads, Designee	Office of Diversity, Student Services and Department Heads

Objective B: to support the search process by encouraging applicants from diverse and

highly qualified backgrounds including follow-up studies

Actions	Timeline	Responsible Party	Resources
Make a National search for faculty	Ongoing (each position posting)	Dean, Search Committee	On-line search Help Affirmative Action Office
Encourage colleagues and acquaintances to apply for position	Ongoing	Dean, Department Heads and Faculty	Attendance at International and National Meetings
Create a follow-up assessment of the search and hiring process

Objective C: to promote the “grow your own” programs as a viable means of recruiting and retaining diverse faculty and staff

Actions	Timeline	Responsible Party	Resources
Department within the School of Education will identify upper level students who hold promise for graduate study and development into effective and valuable staff and/or faculty.	Ongoing	Dean of School, Department Heads and Faculty	Department Heads and Student performance and demonstrations
Departments will identify professional individuals and graduate students who hold or are near the completion of a Masters degree and possess promise for doctoral study and development into effective and valuable staff and/or faculty.	Ongoing	Dean, Department Heads, Faculty and Adjunct Personnel	Department Heads, Faculty and adjunct faculty or staff

Objective D: to support departmental efforts and actively attract, recruit and retain a diverse student population

Actions	Timeline	Responsible Party	Resources
Recruit students from identified counties with significant pools of minority students	Ongoing	Recruitment office	Student Affairs, High School Counselors and Parents
Prepare recruitment brochures written in several languages	Fall 2006	Dean, Department Heads and Faculty/Staff	International Language Departments and Student Services
Create an International Alumni Association Database	Spring 2006	Alumni Office Graduate Office, Admissions	Alumni Office, Graduate Office, and International Student Office
Utilize the various departments in the School of Education to coordinate an Academic Career Day for minority students	Fall 2006	Student Services, Dean and Department Heads	Student Services, Area School Counselors, Dean, Department Heads and Faculty
Utilize existing School of Education events to establish additional camps and opportunities for students to visit campus	Ongoing	Admissions, Dean, Department Heads	Department Heads
Continue to host state school counselors for information sessions	Ongoing	Admission and Student Services	Admissions, Student Services, Dean and Hospitality
Develop key relationships with two-year institutions	Spring 2006	Registrar’s office	Admissions, Registrar

Objective E: to identify geographic areas that contains a significant population of diverse students

Actions	Timeline	Responsible Party	Resources
Recruit students from targeted counties and/or countries	Ongoing	Recruitment Office	Student Services International Office
Provide invitations to certain public schools with diverse populations	Fall 2005	Student Services Student Affairs and Office of Diversity	Dean, Department Heads, Student Government
Expand and/or create summer institutes to include a more diverse population	Ongoing	Office of Diversity and Institute Directors	Office of Diversity
Schedule School of Education and representatives from the University to assist local area students with the scholarship application process	August & January	Admissions, Office of Diversity and Financial Aid	Admissions, Office of Diversity and Financial Aid

Objective F: to establish multicultural scholarships designed to attract the top minority students in the state

Actions	Timeline	Responsible Party	Resources
Develop a user friendly website	Ongoing	Dean, Department Heads	Technology Center and Office on Diversity
Work collaboratively with the Department of Higher Education and Arkansas Department of Education to identify scholarships for minority students	Ongoing	Office of Diversity, Dept of Ed and Higher contacts and Counseling Center	Office of Diversity, Dept of Ed and Higher contacts and Counseling Center
Schedule School of Education representatives to assist high schools with questions/answers about the school and the scholarship application process	Ongoing	Admissions, Financial Aid, Dean and Department Heads	Financial Aid, Admissions and Academic Advising
Establish sponsorships of students with local businesses and companies	Fall 2006	Admissions, Academic Advising, Dean and Department Heads	Chamber of Commerce Academic Advising

Objective G: to develop procedures to track progress and retention of undergraduate and graduate minority students

Actions	Timeline	Responsible Party	Resources
Work to increase the effectiveness of the existing Office of Retention in retaining minority students	Ongoing	Office of Retention, Student Services and Bridge to Excellence Program	Student Services and Bridge to Excellence Program Director
Profile successful minority majors that have made significant contributions in their respective academic areas	Spring 2006	Department Heads and/or Faculty	Schools in the University Dean and Department Heads or Faculty
Nurture departmental organizations to include a diverse membership	Fall 2005	Dean, Department Heads	Advisors for student organizations, Office of Diversity

Goal 2: Create a more inclusive school climate of success for all people to achieve meaningful improvements in awareness, understanding and sensitivity to diverse issues

Objective A: to establish and encourage a clear commitment to the value of diversity on the part of all members of the school of education community

Actions	Timeline	Responsible Party	Resources
Ensure that scheduled activities and events for the School of Education students are inclusive and diverse.	Ongoing	Dean, Department Heads, Faculty	Dean, Department Heads, Faculty, Student Services and Student Government
Provide continuity in the processes established for assessing and implementing practices that encourage a diversity friendly atmosphere	Fall 2005	Dean, Department Heads and Faculty	Dean, Department Heads Faculty, Student Affairs and Office of Diversity
Incorporate diversity workshops as an integral component of the sustained staff development	Spring 2006	Dean	Center for Teaching & Learning, Academic Affairs and Search Committees
Attend regional & national conferences on diversity	Fall 2005	Faculty	Regional & National Conference and Professional Development Grant

Objective B: to develop a diverse school of education climate of living, learning and working

Actions	Timeline	Responsible Party	Resources
Provide diversity awareness programs for the School of Education Faculty, students and invite the community	Spring 2006	Dean, Department Heads and Faculty	Student Organizations and Office of Diversity
Start a brown bag luncheon form to discuss multicultural issues	Summer 2005	Dean, Department Heads, Faculty and Student Organizations	Multicultural Research, Student Organizations and International Office
Make available exhibitions of multicultural arts, such as paintings, drawings, pottery etc.	Fall 2005	Dean and Student Organizations	Art Department
Schedule series of multicultural performance including poetry reading, dance, theatre and music	Spring 2006	Faculty, Dean, and Department heads	Fine Arts Department, Music Department and Local Artists
Celebrate with a ethnic multicultural fair with themed foods	Summer 2006	International Studies, Dean, Faculty	Food Services and International Students

Goal 3: Increase the understanding of existing knowledge about diversity in educational programs through curriculum

Objective A: to strengthen library holdings of diverse materials

Actions	Timeline	Responsible Party	Resources
Provide additional funding to the library purchase budget committee dedicated to the purchase of multicultural materials	Fall 2005	Dean of Education Academic Affairs	Librarian, International Students and Catalogues Academic Affairs Office
Prepare and present a report regarding specific strengths and areas where additional library holdings are needed	Spring 2006	Dean, Department Heads and Faculty	Librarian, Other Universities
Assess current holdings in the Curriculum Library, School of Education	Summer 2005	Curriculum Librarian and Student Workers	Curriculum Librarian and Secretary
Institute an faculty orientation professional development session to the Curriculum Library before the start of the Fall semester (emphasizing multicultural issues and holdings)	Fall 2006	Curriculum Librarian and workers	Faculty & Staff in charge of the Curriculum Library
Hold a student orientation session each semester for all education majors.	Fall 2006	Curriculum Librarian and workers	Faculty & Staff in charge of the Curriculum

Objective B: to expand the school’s academic programs and course offerings to include programs and courses in diversity

Actions	Timeline	Responsible Party	Resources
Develop new course offerings in diversity and inclusion	Fall 2006	Dean and Department Heads	International Studies, Fine Arts Program
Offer courses in diversity as part of the general education requirements	Fall 2006	Dean and Department Head	Registrar, Curriculum Committee and Graduate Council
Consider creating a new degree program in multicultural studies	Ongoing	Academic Affairs and Dean