The University of Nebraska–Lincoln is turning to students, faculty and staff to further work on enhancing diversity and inclusion on campus.
Announced by Donde Plowman, executive vice chancellor and chief academic officer, the university has launched three diversity advocacy workgroups. The groups, each tasked with researching a specific theme, were created through recommendations made in a universitywide diversity and inclusion study completed by Halualani and Associates, a national research firm.
Students, faculty and staff have until March 30 to register to participate in a workgroup. Registration is available online.
The workgroup themes are:
Developing a curriculum that supports goals of diversity, equity and inclusion;
Recruiting, retaining and graduating a diverse student body; and
Recruiting and retaining diverse faculty and staff toward building an inclusive campus culture.
The themes are based on eight areas of focus identified by Halualani and Associates as priorities for the university to address within the next five years. Results of the diversity and inclusion study were presented in public forums on Sept. 25, 2017. The complete report is available online.
Each diversity advocacy workgroup will be tasked with analyzing recommendations made in the diversity and inclusion study; gathering and reviewing information on existing campus practices and policies; and identifying short- and long-term diversity initiatives, actions or programs.
Plowman said the workgroups will develop plans through the summer and present final recommendations in the fall semester.
A diversity advocacy workgroup retreat is scheduled for April 30. Additional information about the workgroups and retreat are available online.
