Inspiring Diversity - Office of the Provostprovost.ku.edu/sites/provost.ku.edu/files/KU_Diversity-Equity_Annual_Report...—E. Nathan Thomas III, vice provost for Diversity and Equity

Inspiring Diversity2015 Diversity & equity

report

“Each of us has our own story. We each have our own experiences that areformed by our identities.”

—Precious Porras, Interim Director, Office of Multicultural Affairs

Diversity anD equity LeaDership team

E. Nathan Thomas III, PhD Vice Provost for Diversity and EquityKathy Rose-Mockry, PhD Director, Emily Taylor Center for Women and Gender EquityTerri Morris Administrative Associate, Provost Office Precious Porras, MA Interim Director, Office of Multicultural AffairsCody Charles, MA Associate Director, Office of Multicultural AffairsEstela Gavosto, PhD Executive Director, Multicultural Scholars ProgramSaida Bonifield, MA Project Manager, Office of Diversity and EquitySharon Lea Parnell Business Manager, Provost Office

2 Inspiring Diversity / 2015 Diversity & Equity Report

Here at KU, we know it’s our differences that give us strength as individuals, as a community and as a University, and when we join together, that

strength only grows. That is why we strive to create opportunities where diversity can thrive throughout the University — whether that’s through scholarship programs, discussions, collaborations or mentorships.

1

proviDe a strong Diversity anD equity team

and unit infrastructure to support campus needs.

2

promote an incLusive organizationaL cuLture

that implements diversity, equity, inclusion and social justice strategies across campus to support

faculty, staff and student success.

3

offer Diversity, equity, incLusion anD sociaL justice

initiatives, programs, activities and trainings that aim to eliminate campus disparities,

discrimination and harassment.

4

support organizationaL units to achieve and assess accountability for addressing campus disparities, discrimination and harassment.

“To have a greater impact on the state and nation, it’s crucial we address the lack of diversity among our students, faculty and staff and increase the diversity in campus leadership, faculty rank, student graduates, alumni involvement and community engagement. This can only happen by working together to make diversity a priority for everyone, not just those in marginalized groups.”

—E. Nathan Thomas III, vice provost for Diversity and Equity

With a newly defined unit to establish the University of Kansas as a national leader in diversity, the Office of Diversity and Equity is well on its way to fostering an environment where diversity is incorporated into every aspect of university life.

To help us accomplish our mission to strategically lead, connect and advocate for diversity, equity and access at KU, we’ve developed the following strategic goals:

To support diversity & equity efforts, give online at www.kuendowment.org/givenow 3

Using these goals as a touchstone, the Office of Diversity and Equity has seen areas of progress during the 2014-2015 school year.

Some of the highlights include:

aDDing new staff to the unit including Saida Bonifield, diversity and equity project manager; Melissa Peterson, multicultural community coordinator; Jerry Crawford, Diversity & Equity faculty fellow; and Becky Welton, Haskell liaison, the Diversity and Equity unit is strengthening its infrastructure to better serve the KU campus and community.

Launching the first-ever system-wiDe campus cLimate stuDy, which will conclude in the summer of 2017. The study will help gauge student, staff, and faculty experiences on the campus and will facilitate the development of strategic diversity initiatives and actions to implement on campus.

aBove Students, staff and faculty pose for a photo with the Center for Sexuality and Gender Diversity at the “Be You at KU” event.

We’ve enhanced initiatives supporting students, staff and faculty, provided valuable campus-wide education and learning opportunities, and established mutually-beneficial relationships with community partners.

The number of

female faculTywho are tenured or on the tenured track has

increased by

2.5%since 2011


Strengthening the collaboration with Faculty Development is important to help improve diversity, retain quality faculty, and improve faculty success at KU. The Hiring for Excellence program has successfully produced an increase in women and minority faculty. Work is also being done to enhance faculty retention.

hiring two Langston hughes visiting

professors to join KU faculty during the 2014-2015 school year. This is the first time in the program’s history that two visiting professors have been identified for the one-semester appointment for ethnic minority scholars. Two additional visiting professors were selected for the 2015-2016 school year.

securing $3.7 miLLion to help fund the Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP) and the Initiative for Maximizing Student Development (IMSD).

aBove Pictured from left: Dr. Marta Caminero-Santangelo, Provost Jeff Vitter, Dr. Tammara Durham and Dr. Rick Ginsberg. Provost Vitter participates in a panel discussion during the Fourth Annual Diversity Symposium hosted by the Office of Diversity & Equity.

hosting four LeaDership symposiums through the Office of Multicultural Affairs and the Office of Enrollment Management that brought more than 500 local underrepresented high school students to campus.

Bringing together high-LeveL aDministrators

across the campus for the Fourth Annual Diversity Symposium held in the Spring of 2015. University leaders spent the afternoon developing strategies to support diversity goals and promote a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion across the campus. Approximately 70 administrators participated in the event to discuss best practices and find new opportunities for collaboration.

The percenTage of

minoriTy faculTywho are tenured or on the

tenure track has increased by

15.1%since 2011


Students talk outside Sabatini Multicultural Resource Center.

In 2015, KU saw a slight decline in the number of minority first-time freshman who attended the university compared to figures from 2014. Decreases were seen among Black students and those of two or more

races; however, there was positive growth among Hispanic students. In 2015, 8% of first-time freshman were Hispanic, compared to 7.4% the year before. Hispanic students now represent the second-largest undergraduate population on campus, making up 7.2% of the population. Whites make up the largest percentage at 71.2%.

While retention and graduation rates have increased since 2011, American Indians, Blacks, and Hispanics continue to have lower first-year retention, as well as four- and six-year graduation rates compared to Asians and Whites.

Among tenured and tenure-track faculty, Asians and Hispanics are the largest minority groups. For staff members, Hispanics make up the largest minority group. The number of minority faculty who are tenured or on the tenure-track has increased by 15.1% since 2011. To strategically increase diversity and success among underrepresented and minority groups at KU, units will have to maximize collaboration and commitment around diversity priorities (see page 23).

By the numBers:

KU has seen positive growth in overall minority student enrollment, retention and graduation rates from 2011 to 2014. During this time, the University also saw an increase in minority staff and faculty hires. However, more work is still needed to improve campus diversity and address some of the declines seen in 2015 among specific populations.


faLL

Lawrence campus first-time freshmen, unDergraDuate anD graDuate heaD count By race & sex

AmericanIndian Asian Black Hispanic Native

Hawaiian White Two or MoreRaces

NonresidentAlien Unknown

Minority TotalIncludes Two or

More Races

F M % F M % F M % F M % F M % F M % F M % F M % F M % F M %

First-time Freshmen Student Head Count By Race & Sex (includes full-time and part-time)

2011 (N=3,580) 9 10 0.5 69 64 3.7 97 75 4.8 113 99 5.9 1 2 0.1 1,468 1,310 77.6 90 72 4.5 35 50 2.4 6 10 0.4 379 322 19.6

2012 (N=3,771) 6 4 0.3 81 67 3.9 73 73 3.9 134 131 7.0 0 1 0.0 1,487 1,342 75.0 127 108 6.2 53 67 3.2 9 8 0.5 421 384 21.3

2013(N=4,000) 5 10 0.4 78 78 3.9 112 88 5.0 166 126 7.3 2 1 0.1 1,514 1,467 74.5 116 88 5.1 42 75 2.9 17 15 0.8 479 391 21.8

2014 (N=4,084) 6 5 0.3 89 86 4.3 127 120 6.0 169 135 7.4 1 5 0.1 1,548 1,399 72.2 120 102 5.4 46 101 3.6 10 15 0.6 512 453 23.6

2015 (N=4,187) 12 3 0.4 102 78 4.3 93 86 4.3 177 159 8.0 0 0 0.0 1,568 1,369 70.1 122 100 5.3 93 196 6.9 17 12 0.7 506 426 22.3

Undergraduate Student Head Count By Race & Sex (includes first-time freshmen counts)

2011 (N=19,222) 64 52 0.6 348 349 3.6 353 368 3.8 531 482 5.3 6 8 0.1 7,227 7,545 76.8 306 262 3.0 508 681 6.2 47 85 0.7 1,608 1,521 16.3

2012 (N=18,708) 57 50 0.6 352 352 3.8 330 371 3.7 574 535 5.9 4 8 0.1 6,824 7,196 74.9 385 334 3.8 527 690 6.5 52 67 0.6 1,702 1,650 17.9

2013 (N=18,744) 47 51 0.5 353 375 3.9 363 393 4.0 634 553 6.3 8 9 0.1 6,754 7,012 73.4 425 354 4.2 532 749 6.8 62 70 0.7 1,830 1,735 19.0

2014 (N=18,851) 43 42 0.5 362 406 4.1 424 453 4.7 664 614 6.8 9 10 0.1 6,703 6,895 72.1 459 397 4.5 512 713 6.5 67 78 0.8 1,961 1,922 20.6

2015 (N=18,715) 39 36 0.4 399 418 4.4 370 399 4.1 701 644 7.2 3 4 0.0 6,638 6,694 71.2 494 436 5.0 482 782 6.8 88 88 0.9 2,006 1,937 21.1

Graduate Student Head Count By Race & Sex

2011 (N=6,226) 32 32 1.0 125 97 3.6 92 84 2.8 118 98 3.5 0 3 0.0 2,327 1,972 69.0 61 47 1.7 438 507 15.2 93 100 3.1 428 361 12.7

2012 (N=5,869) 25 21 0.8 114 93 3.5 99 84 3.1 97 91 3.2 1 3 0.1 2,149 1,867 68.4 64 51 2.0 432 489 15.7 93 96 3.2 400 343 12.7

2013 (N=5,691) 32 27 1.0 107 85 3.4 96 83 3.1 92 76 3.0 0 4 0.1 2,030 1,780 66.9 83 46 2.3 452 513 17.0 89 96 3.3 410 321 12.8

2014 (N=5,761) 26 23 0.9 86 89 3.0 89 77 2.9 95 69 2.8 0 1 0.0 2,063 1,716 65.6 98 57 2.7 473 585 18.4 96 118 3.7 394 316 12.3

2015 (N=5,993) 37 17 0.9 104 94 3.3 122 85 3.5 106 69 2.9 0 1 0.0 2,214 1,687 65.1 116 69 3.1 484 615 18.3 76 97 2.9 485 335 13.7

SoURCE

Student Head Count Enrollment is from Enrolled Student Headcount, Fall 2011-Fall 2015, Office of Institutional Research and PlanningMinority counts includes American Indian, Asian, Black, Hispanic, Native Hawaiian, and Two or More Races.


faLL

first semester anD first year retention rates for first-time fuLL-time freshmen



Nonresident Alien Unknown


More Races

Sem Yr Sem Yr Sem Yr Sem Yr Sem Yr Sem Yr Sem Yr Sem Yr Sem Yr Sem Yr

2011 (N=3,493) 73.7% 52.6% 95.4% 80.2% 84.8% 62.6% 90.0% 72.9% 66.7% 66.7% 93.1% 81.1% 88.8% 72.5% 100% 92.3% 100% 68.8% 88.9% 71.0%

2012 (N=3,651) 90.0% 90.0% 93.2% 81.5% 82.1% 57.9% 90.0% 71.5% 100% 100% 93.2% 82.3% 92.2% 71.4% 91.9% 81.1% 100% 93.8% 89.8% 71.1%

2013 (N=3,895) 92.9% 78.6% 96.8% 87.7% 83.8% 65.2% 91.4% 79.0% 66.7% 66.7% 93.6% 81.7% 89.9% 69.8% 100% 92.0% 96.9% 84.4% 90.2% 75.2%

2014 (N=3,975) 100% 40.0% 95.4% 83.8% 81.1% 57.6% 93.3% 76.7% 33.3% 33.3% 92.4% 82.4% 91.2% 74.7% 96.3% 86.4% 96.0% 84.0% 90.3% 72.0%

entering faLL

cLass

four anD six year graDuation rates for first-time fuLL-time freshmen



Nonresident Alien Unknown


More Races

4 Yr 6 Yr 4 Yr 6 Yr 4 Yr 6 Yr 4 Yr 6 Yr 4 Yr 6 Yr 4 Yr 6 Yr 4 Yr 6 Yr 4 Yr 6 Yr 4 Yr 6 Yr 4 Yr 6 Yr

2005 (N=4,106) 15.1% 43.4% 34.0% 63.2% 11.3% 39.3% 26.4% 51.6% NA NA 33.8% 62.5% NA NA 34.6% 57.7% 32.6% 58.1% 22.9% 50.4%

2006 (N=4,091) 28.8% 51.9% 39.3% 68.1% 18.4% 46.3% 29.9% 55.5% NA NA 38.2% 65.7% NA NA 23.4% 51.9% 29.3% 58.5% 30.2% 57.4%

2007 (N=4,028) 16.1% 38.7% 30.6% 61.8% 15.2% 47.1% 24.8% 49.0% NA NA 38.3% 63.0% NA NA 19.8% 58.6% 31.8% 65.9% 23.8% 52.6%

2008 (N=4,435) 25.0% 41.7% 37.9% 63.7% 22.9% 45.3% 31.4% 53.1% NA NA 39.0% 61.0% NA NA 20.5% 64.9% 38.0% 58.2% 30.2% 52.9%

2009 (N=3,894) 35.6% 60.0% 40.8% 60.9% 21.7% 47.4% 28.9% 54.2% NA NA 40.2% 62.6% NA NA 15.4% 62.1% 30.0% 56.7% 30.8% 54.6%

SoURCE

Retention and Graduation Rates are from the Retention and Graduation Reports, September 2015, Office of Institutional Research and Planning.Minority counts includes American Indian, Asian, Black, Hispanic, Native Hawaiian, and Two or More Races.


faLL

Lawrence campus tenureD anD tenure-track facuLty heaDcount By race & sex





More Races


2011 (N=1,126) 3 4 0.6 31 73 9.2 19 20 3.5 17 22 3.5 0 0 0.0 300 596 79.6 7 3 0.9 16 15 2.8 0 0 0.0 77 122 17.7

2012 (N=1,130) 3 4 0.6 30 76 9.4 18 20 3.4 17 23 3.5 0 0 0.0 300 594 79.1 9 5 1.2 13 17 2.7 0 1 0.1 77 128 18.1

2013 (N=1,144) 4 4 0.7 35 76 9.7 18 22 3.5 20 24 3.8 0 0 0.0 306 584 77.8 9 6 1.3 14 22 3.1 0 0 0.0 86 132 19.1

2014 (N=1,140) 4 5 0.8 43 78 10.6 21 21 3.7 21 23 3.9 0 0 0.0 306 577 77.5 9 6 1.3 7 19 2.3 0 0 0.0 98 133 20.3

2015 (N=1,116) 4 5 0.8 43 81 11.1 20 19 3.5 19 23 3.8 0 0 0.0 300 557 76.8 9 6 1.3 8 22 2.7 0 0 0.0 95 134 20.5

faLL

Lawrence campus nontenure-track facuLty heaDcount By race & sex





More Races


2011 (N=452) 2 0 0.4 12 4 3.5 6 5 2.4 9 3 2.7 0 0 0.0 211 177 85.8 4 1 1.1 6 12 4.0 0 0 0.0 33 13 10.2

2012 (N=478) 1 0 0.2 19 2 4.4 3 4 1.5 6 3 1.9 0 0 0.0 219 189 85.4 6 3 1.9 10 13 4.8 0 0 0.0 35 12 9.8

2013 (N=482) 2 0 0.4 17 4 4.4 6 3 1.9 9 4 2.7 0 0 0.0 220 190 85.1 4 4 1.7 8 11 3.9 0 0 0.0 38 15 11.0

2014 (N=509) 1 0 0.2 18 5 4.5 6 7 2.6 9 6 2.9 0 0 0.0 232 200 84.9 5 5 2.0 6 9 2.9 0 0 0.0 39 23 12.2

2015 (N=530) 1 0 0.2 19 5 4.5 7 9 3.0 11 6 3.2 0 0 0.0 219 218 82.5 6 6 2.3 12 11 4.3 0 0 0.0 44 26 13.2

faLL

Lawrence campus staff heaDcount By race & sex (Excludes Student Employees)





More Races


2011 (N=3,495) 12 26 1.1 60 50 3.1 61 50 3.2 70 65 3.9 1 0 0.0 1694 1226 83.5 28 19 1.3 49 84 3.8 0 0 0.0 232 210 12.6

2012 (N=3,447) 11 24 1.0 59 49 3.1 63 47 3.2 68 57 3.6 0 0 0.0 1664 1202 83.1 38 22 1.7 49 93 4.1 0 1 0.0 239 199 12.7

2013 (N=3,542) 12 26 1.1 66 55 3.4 67 57 3.5 75 57 3.7 0 0 0.0 1693 1251 83.1 34 20 1.5 41 88 3.6 0 0 0.0 254 215 13.2

2014 (N=3,606) 11 25 1.0 73 62 3.7 72 57 3.6 74 56 3.6 0 0 0.0 1722 1260 82.7 43 23 1.8 45 82 3.5 0 1 0.0 273 223 13.8

2015 (N=3,605) 13 27 1.1 67 61 3.6 76 55 3.6 82 64 4.0 0 0 0.0 1730 1236 82.3 37 20 1.6 42 89 3.6 2 4 0.2 275 227 13.9

SoURCE

Faculty and staff counts are from the Faculty/Staff Demographic Report, various years, Office of Institutional Research and Planning.Minority counts includes American Indian, Asian, Black, Hispanic, Native Hawaiian, and Two or More Races.


Langston hughes visiting professors

Students at KU can learn from professors outside of the university without ever leaving campus.

aBove Dr. Ayesha Hardison served as Langston Hughes Visiting Professor in the English department for the 2014 Fall Semester.

top Langston Hughes Visiting Professors are able to share a unique perspective with the campus community.

The Langston Hughes Visiting Professor program, established at KU in 1977, brings minority scholars from other parts of the country to KU for a one-semester term to share their knowledge and insights with those

here at KU.Last year, for the first time ever, the university was able to hire two visiting

faculty members. Dr. Ayesha Hardison accepted a position in the Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (WGSS) department. Dr. Hardison now holds a joint appointment in WGSS and the English Department. Dr. Fola Agusto accepted a position in the Ecological and Evolutionary Biology department. Both highlighted the welcoming environment and supportive faculty and staff as reasons why they selected KU.

To increase department participation, the LHVP committee reached out to five departments and approximately 100 faculty to discuss and increase LHVP applications. Two more faculty were selected for LHVP this year: Professor Omar Gudiño, an assistant professor who is part of the Psychology department, and Professor Alicides Velasquez, assistant professor, who joined the Communication Studies and Political Science departments. Interest in the program continues to grow, with the selection committee receiving its highest number of applications ever this year.


The fellow is given 18 months to develop a project that’s both personal to the faculty member and helps promote diversity among KU’s faculty and staff. The goal of the program is to improve recruitment, hiring, and retention rates of underrepresented faculty and provide a professional development opportunity for faculty members who

want to create a more diverse campus.

“The benefit of being immersed in a highly collaborative group of staff, faculty and administrators is that it allows me to see that there is more than a ‘check mark’ regarding equity here at the University.”

—jerry crawford ii, the university’s first Diversity and Equity Faculty Fellow

Diversity anD equity facuLty feLLow

Faculty can bring their own ideas to improve campus diversity to reality through the Diversity and Equity Faculty Fellow position.

paving a path towarD exceLLence. As the first person to serve as the Diversity and Equity Faculty Fellow, Jerry Crawford II, an associate professor in News and Information, School of Journalism and Mass Communications, knows he is laying a foundation for those to come.

Armed with a passion for creating an inclusive learning and working environment for all, Crawford plans to spend his 18-month post studying how KU can

work collaboratively with Historically Black Colleges and Universities to help these historically black organizations incorporate new teaching, research and outcome expectations so they are able to remain a viable part of the community. In turn, KU will have access to some of the best minority scholars and administrators and will be able enhance recruiting efforts by becoming a post-baccalaureate option for students attending these colleges and universities.


the emiLy tayLor center for women & genDer equity

Effectively challenging the status quo, one discussion at a time.

It’s this idea that drives leaders of the Emily Taylor Center for Women & Gender Equity as they create collaborative avenues for students, faculty and staff to share their experiences and discuss real-world issues in a safe space. “The ETC works to challenge gender inequity by raising awareness,

building skills, enhancing involvement and fostering one’s voice to bring about change,” says Kathy Rose-Mockry, director of the Emily Taylor Center for Women & Gender Equity.

The Center has been able to do this by hosting lecture series, retreats, symposiums and creating work groups to tackle issues surrounding gender and the barriers to equality that exist today. This year, as part of the Jana Mackey Distinguished Lecture Series, Dr. Melissa Harris-Perry spoke to more than 800 people about sexual violence and the role race and privilege play in the issue. The following day, close to 30 continued the discussion at a follow-up program.

During the all-day Men and Masculinities symposium, more than 60 students, faculty and staff joined together to discuss topics that included being a man of color, representation of men in the media, developing healthy relationships, and sexual violence.

The center also collaborated with the University Career Center to host a workshop for women on salary negotiating skills.

During The 2014-15 acaDemic year, the

Emily Taylor Center for Women & Gender Equity provided

23 need-based scholarship awards,

totaling $8,100 through the KU Women 4 KU Women Fund.

more Than

$25,000has been raised for the

Jana mackey Distinguished lecture, which was

attended this year by more than 800 people.


aBove Dr. Melissa Harris-Perry addressed more than 800 people about sexual violence and the role of race and privilege as part of the Jana Mackey Lecture series.

Left The Honorable Karen Mitchell Humphreys, U.S. Magistrate Judge, left, and the Honorable Julie Robinson, U.S. District Judge, right, both KU School of Law graduates, were selected in the Spring of 2015 to be inducted into the KU Women’s Hall of Fame.

opposite page Attendees of the Women of Color Retreat gained strength from one another by discussing their shared experiences and challenges. Nearly 30 women spent the day sharing ideas, gaining support and celebrating their unique experiences as women. The day-long event also included a discussion on sexual assault. Women left the retreat feeling empowered. As one attendee wrote, “Being a woman of color is extremely hard, but it is an honor, and I need to be bold more often than silent.” This event is a collaboration between the Office of Multicultural Affairs, Emily Taylor Center for Women & Gender Equity and the Department of Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies.


aBove Multicultural Scholars Program mentors Professors Anne Williford (second from right) and Toni Johnson (second from left) meet with students in the program at Watson Library.

Left A recent KU graduate wears his cap and gown at the Multicultural Scholars Program commencement.


muLticuLturaL schoLars program

More underrepresented students are finding their way to the Multicultural Scholars Program — and to the university — thanks to new recruiting efforts.

in 2012-2013, the Multicultural Scholars Program

provided approximately

$260,000 in scholarship

support through state funding and private donations.

for The 2015-2016 school year, the MSP has

recruited 60 students

and has now grown to

175 scholars.

anoTher

$25,000 in private

donor support was used for travel abroad

and conference participation.

The Multicultural Scholars Program has teamed up with the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and Financial Aid and Scholarships to identify and actively recruit students from underrepresented

backgrounds while they are still in high school. As part of the new recruiting efforts, student ambassadors reach out to top

candidates through phone, text, email and social media to help recruit these students to KU and to answer any questions they may have. The program also now holds interview sessions over Skype to gauge an applicant’s interest in KU, the MSP and their suitability for the program.

With a goal to grow from 148 to 240 in the next four years, the Multicultural Scholars Program is well on its way. This year, the new recruiting process brought in more than 250 completed applications to the program.

But the work doesn’t end there. To prepare diverse scholars for leadership in the future, the MSP believes the most critical period to provide students the support and mentorship they need to succeed is during their first semester. It’s these mentoring efforts that have lead to 20 years of historically high retention and graduation rates among its scholars. To accomplish this, MSP directors from individual schools across campus work closely with students to help them find their place on campus.

“The trusted individuals at mSp are there to help you and guide you ‘til the end. The long term relationship I developed with my Program Director helped me feel supported, and the MSP staff gave me vast support as well.”

—Linseey Johnson, recent graduate


It’s a formula that Dr. Estela Gavosto, Mathematics, and Dr. James Orr, Molecular Biosciences, have been perfecting for years as they create and facilitate programs specifically designed to help these students reach their

full potential.Programs such as the Initiative for Maximizing Student Development

(IMSD) provide mentorship, professional development opportunities and access to student research experiences. The IMSD program, which is supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), enhances opportunities for students interested in pursuing careers in the area of biomedical and behavioral research. Students in the program have received national attention this year for their efforts in the field. Marcus Florez received a Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native American in Sciences, Student Presentation Award at the society national meeting, and both Taylor Broadhead and Kayla Sale were awarded 2015 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships.

Dr. Gavosto and Dr. Orr also provide training for students who have a baccalaureate degree from higher education institutions including Tribal Colleges, Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Hispanic-Serving Institutions but could benefit from additional research and professional training prior to entering a graduate program. Through the KU Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Program, also funded by NIH, these students are able to complete a program of research, coursework and professional development that will allow them to be highly competitive graduate school applicants. This year alone, three of these scholars were accepted into Ph.D. programs at KU.

office for Diversity in science training

The formula for creating a diverse scientific community is complex, but an essential element is to give talented, underrepresented students the resources and support they need to succeed in science and research arenas.

aBove Hebron Kelecha, a biochemistry major in the Initiative for Maximizing Student Development (IMSD), gains hands-on experience in the lab

opposite top A 2013 graduate in Molecular Bioscience works in the lab.

opposite Bottom Dr. Estela Gavosto teaches a math class to KU undergrad students.


Programs such as the initiative for maximizing Student Development (imSD) provide mentorship, professional development opportunities and access to student research experiences.


aBove Hawk Link program staff and students work together in the community garden at the Brown vs. Board of Education National Historic Site.

Left Students join Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little at the Annual Chancellor’s Reception for Students of Color.


office of muLticuLturaL affairs

Cultivating an inclusive campus community through social justice and academic success.

The Office of Multicultural Affairs provides support and services for current and prospective students from historically marginalized populations. Our programs and services enhance the retention and

persistence of students, while supporting their academic, personal and professional development. Additionally, through purposeful coalitions, we offer diversity and social justice education programs that foster inclusive learning environments for the campus community.

The Hawk Link program, run by the Office of Multicultural Affairs begins building a connection with students during their senior year of high school, and continues that relationship through summer orientation and their time in college.

Hawk Link staff help students build their academic class schedules and connect students to existing programs and services on campus so they can find their place at KU.

“We hope that students enrolled in the Hawk Link program feel valued and empowered, as they claim their Jayhawk journey,” says Cody Charles, associate director for academic enrichment. “We make the campus smaller, while students work on making their experience at KU grander.”

It’s a formula with proven success: almost 90 percent of Hawk Link students return for a spring semester.

Undergraduate student Kori Godinez says she doesn’t believe she’d still be at the university without the program. With the help of Hawk Link, she’s thrived and now serves as a Hawk Link guide and peer adviser to others students.

“Hawk Link helped me find my home on campus,” she says.Since 2012, 247 students have completed the Hawk Link curriculum.

Instead of simply reading about it, participants experienced what it’s like to be oppressed through an interactive display that brings the issue into full focus. The event, called the Tunnel of Oppression, drew more than 400 participants in three days, all of whom were able to witness skits, along with video, audio and visual displays on topics related to racism, homophobia, sexism, genocide, suicide and body image.

In the Fall of 2014, the Office of Multicultural Affairs has served 3,079 faculty, staff, student and community members in more than 35 diversity and social justice programs and trainings.


community engagement anD partnerships

When it comes to providing the best opportunities for underrepresented students at KU, we know we can’t do it alone.

That’s why the Office of Diversity and Equity often partners with outside organizations to create and support programs that make transitioning to campus life a smooth process. With the help of the Diversity and

Leadership Council Workgroup (members listed on the back page), a collaboration between many who work on diversity efforts across campus, KU is able to identify the best opportunities and programs to benefit staff, faculty and students.

One of these programs is The 500 Nations Bridge to the Future collaboration between Haskell Indian Nations University and the University of

Kansas. Haskell students are able to gain research experience in KU laboratories and receive mentoring as they transition

to KU or other four-year universities. The new Haskell Community Liaison will also enhance the University’s exchange and transfer program.

In 2014, KU also had its first KIPP engineering student. The Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) creates

partnerships between charter schools and universities to increase the number of first generation, low-income

minority students who attend and graduate from college.The university also works with the Kauffman Scholars

program, a multi-year college access and scholarship program for low-income urban students in Kansas City.

But partnerships aren’t just created outside KU. Within the university, faculty and staff councils help employees find the support they need for faculty and staff who identify as Asian and/or Asian American, African American and/or Black, Latino and/or Hispanic, Native and LGBTQIA+. These councils help address issues or concerns for each group.

top Attendees pose for a photo at the 2015 Native American Leadership Symposium.

87% of the Fall 2013 or Spring 2014 participants in Trio SeS, a program serving low income or first-

generation college students with academic need, remained at the

University in the Fall of 2014.

since 2009, 120 students have participated

in the mcnair program, a resource for low-income, first-generation, minority students.

117 have either graduated or remain enrolled at the University.

The program connects students to faculty-led research

opportunities to prepare students for doctoral programs or

other future endeavors.

27Kauffman ScholarS

students attended KU in the Fall of

2015


Diversity & equity highLights across campus

In addition to efforts by the Office of Diversity and Equity to improve the campus climate, here are some other initiatives and successes around the campus:

the 20th annuaL Diversity in Law Banquet hosteD By outLaws

& aLLies was held to celebrate diversity in the legal profession. OUTLaws & Allies is a student group

devoted to making KU Law a safe and welcoming place for LGBTQIA+ students, staff, faculty and their allies. The banquet is a major fundraiser for the Diversity Scholarship Fund and raised over $16,500 this year.

former ku athLetes, homer fLoyD anD ernie sheLBy, returned to KU to take part in MLK Day events. Homer Floyd was KU’s first

black football captain and a noted civil rights leader for more than 40 years, and Ernie Shelby, was KU’s first black track captain, who went on to become a jazz composer and singer.

options, or opening paths to

inDiviDuaLizeD opportunity anD

success, a program unDer trio, eased the transition to college for incoming freshman through a summer five-day residential preparatory program.

participateD for a fourth year

in project search, a national high school transition program that gives high school students with significant disabilities an opportunity to serve as interns at KU.

specific schooLs across

campus have createD Diversity

Departments or committees to ensure improving diversity and equity is a campus-wide effort. These schools and departments include Engineering, Law School, Education, Clinical Psychology, English and KU Athletics.

the Department of engLish

heLD its annuaL jayhawk

sneak peek, an initiative by the department to recruit graduate students by inviting potential candidates who are historically underrepresented for an all expense-paid visit to campus.

Ku School of

muSic presented a gospel celebration featuring doctoral

candidate, Brandon McCray

the office of muLticuLturaL affairs joineD with

the sexuaLity anD genDer Diversity center to host five Safe Zone trainings, reaching more than 75 faculty and staff members. More than 64 people also registered for the public Safe Zone trainings in 2014-2015. The Safe Zone program strives to educate the campus and Lawrence community to create a safer environment for all, including those of sexual and gender minorities.

this year, the schooL of Business

partnereD with ku athLetics anD

the Langston hughes center to host the Symposium to Explore the Intersection of Race and Sports. The School of Business also hosted a career workshop for LGBTQIA+ students, as well as a women’s empowerment conference through the American Women’s Business Association.

the LieD center hosteD a variety

of events featuring a diverse set of performers. Some of the performers to take the stage included Jazz great Wynton Marsalis, hip-hop dance company Rennie Harris Puremovement and KODO, a premiere Japanese taiko drumming ensemble.

Ku aThleTicS started the

#oneteam campaign to highlight diversity among KU student-athletes and

alumni.


This past year has been a year of growth.

“To be a leader means the world looks to us for the best diversity practices, and we, in turn, can look to one another to share practices and ideas that will help us become better students, researchers, scholars and colleagues to one another. We are One Team. We are KU.”

—E. Nathan Thomas III, vice provost for Diversity and Equity

To support diversity efforts, give online at

www.kuendowment.org/givenow.

Please notate that your gift is directed toward diversity programs

or diversity scholarships.

Homer Floyd, KU’s first black football captain, and Ernie Shelby, KU’s first black track captain, were honored at a nationally televised game at Allen Fieldhouse In January as part of a Martin Luther King Day Celebration. (Photo provided by Kansas Athletics, Inc.)


Under the direction of new leadership, we’ve enhanced programming for underrepresented students, led meaningful discussions about issues

facing our society and continued to build a community where all students, staff, and faculty can feel at home. But the work has just begun.

As we strive to reach our goal of becoming a national leader in diversity — we know that promoting diversity isn’t just the responsibility of one department but is instead the work of many. Students, faculty and staff of all backgrounds must work together to create an environment where differences aren’t just accepted — they are celebrated.

It’s this idea of shared responsibility that will drive the Office of Diversity and Equity’s #OneTeam campaign. Over the next year, we plan to highlight the work that students, staff and faculty from across the campus are doing to promote diversity, equity and social justice at KU

1

DeveLoping more interventions to support

underrepresented students as they adjust and find success at KU.

4

coLLaBorating with facuLty DeveLopment

to address underrepresented faculty recruitment, hiring and retention.

2

creating a new weBsite that will showcase the unit’s and campus’ diversity

services, accomplishments and latest news.

5

strategicaLLy integrating Diversity anD equity services into other academic units on campus to increase the breadth

and depth of our reach.

To create a truly inclusive environment for all, we must break down barriers and join together to celebrate what makes us each unique. Here at KU, we know diversity and inclusion makes us stronger.

and beyond. Through stories, biographies and pictures, the #OneTeam campaign will shine a light on this important work and the people behind these successes.

To gain a better understanding of the current climate at KU, Lawrence campus, Edwards campus and the University of Kansas Medical Center will partner together on a system-wide initiative to create a KU Campus Climate Study Task Force. This task force, comprised of faculty, staff and student representatives, will study current campus culture and use its findings to make strategic decisions for the future. The hope is that the university will gain a greater understanding of the perceived climate for living, learning and working at KU. The task force will then use this knowledge to develop specific objectives and action plans to promote institutional accountability, change, and cultural shifts for the Lawrence campus, Edwards campus and University of Kansas Medical Center.

3

starting a campus-wiDe micro aggression and cultural competency

education program for students, faculty and staff.

6

increasing ku’s community engagement

among underrepresented groups to promote education

and economic growth.

But Diversity and Equity’s work doesn’t end there. We’ve also identified additional priorities in 2015-2016. These include:


Produced by the Office of Diversity & Equity, 2015

The University of Kansas prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, ancestry, disability, status as a veteran, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, gender identity, gender expression, and genetic information in the university’s programs and activities. Retaliation is also prohibited by university policy. The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies and are the Title IX coordinators for their respective campuses: Executive Director of the Office of Institutional Opportunity & Access, [email protected], 1246 West Campus Road, Room 153A, Lawrence, KS 66045, 785-864-6414, 711 TTY (for the Lawrence, Edwards, Parsons, Yoder, and Topeka campuses); Director, Equal Opportunity Office, Mail Stop 7004, 4330 Shawnee Mission Parkway, Fairway, KS 66205, 913-588-8011, 711 TTY (for the Wichita, Salina, and Kansas City, Kansas, medical center campuses).

2014-2015 Diversity Leadership Council Workgroup Members

memBers organization affiLiation

Shawn Alexander Associate Professor, Langston Hughes Visiting Professor Committee Co-Chair James Anguiano KU Public Safety Daniel Atkinson Assistant Director, Kansas African Studies Center Vince Avila Facilities Services Javier Barroso Graduate Student, Spanish & Portuguese Theresa Becker Associate Athletic Director, Athletics Florence Boldridge Director of Diversity and Women’s Engineering Programs, School of Engineering Saida Bonifield Project Manager, Diversity & Equity Michele Casavant Director of Advising, School of Education; Multicultural Scholars Program Director; President of Native Faculty & Staff Council Cody Case International Programs Estela Gavosto Executive Director, Multicultural Scholars Program; Associate Professor of Mathematics; Director, Office for Diversity in Science Training Susan Gronbeck-Tedesco Associate Vice Provost, International Programs Blane Harding Director, Office of Multicultural Center; President, Black Faculty and Staff Council Letha Johnson Archivist, Libraries Joshua Jones Student Conduct & Community Standards Coordinator, Student Affairs Jacey Krehbiel KU Alumni Association Derek Kwan Director, Lied Center Maritza Machado-Williams Director, Academic Programs for Excellence (TRiO) Diana Marrs Edwards campus (no longer with KU) Jane McQueeny Executive Director, IOA Jim Mechler KU Endowment Association Jim Mielke Associate Dean, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Samantha Montague Advising/enrolling contact, KU/Haskell Exchange Program; Education Program Coordinator, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Danica Moore USD 497 Diversity Officer Mulu Negash Director, McNair Scholars Program Lesley Owens Honors Program Julie Petr Associate Librarian, Faculty Senate Representative Shannon Portillo Associate Professor, School of Public Affairs and Administration & Program Director-Social Sciences, Multicultural Scholars Program Guy Price Zone Manager, Facilities Services Carla Ramirez Vice President, Latino Faculty and Staff Council Trina Ramirez Office of Institutional Research and Planning Bulaong Ramiz OMA contact, KU/Haskell Exchange Program Adrienne Collins Runnebaum Edwards Campus Rachel Rolf General Counsel Kathy Rose-Mockry Director, Emily Taylor Center for Women and Gender Equity Susan Rufledt Director, Student Academic Services, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Jeff Severin Director, Center for Sustainability Andrew Shoemaker Director, Academic Achievement and Access Center Heidi Simon Associate Director, Admissions Jamie Simpson Director, Accessibility and ADA Education Georgina Spear School of Business Arturo Thompson Assistant Dean for Career Services/Director of Diversity & Inclusion, School of Law Greg Valdovino Assistant Director of Diversity and Outreach, Admissions Clayton Wauneka Graduate Student, School of Engineering Melanie Wilson School of Law Holly Zane Human Resources Michael Zogry Director of Indigenous Studies; Associate Professor, Religious Studies

The Office of Diversity and Equity regularly consulted with student government leadership to ensure student involvement and representation in this council.

Documents

Inspiring Diversity - Office of the Provostprovost.ku.edu/sites/provost.ku.edu/files/KU_Diversity-Equity_Annual_Report...—E. Nathan Thomas III, vice provost for Diversity and Equity