Suggestions for improving diversity within the University became a major discussion point among the Board of Visitors' seven standing committee reports presented to the entire Board Friday.
While the Special Committee on Diversity was developed in 2003 to focus specifically on the University's diversity initiatives, Friday's meeting featured discussion of diversity among all of the Board's committees.
This development "is quite different from how it was three years ago," said Warren M. Thompson, chair of the Special Committee on Diversity.
One area in which this diversity discussion was especially prevalent was among the reports of the Educational Policy Committee.
Committee Chair Glynn Key opened up her committee's report by stating that the University holds an 86 percent graduation rate of African-American students, the highest among the top-ranked public schools, in comparison to a 40 percent national average.
"This is something we should be very proud of," Key said.
Among the Committee's proposed strategic goals to improve educational quality was the promotion of faculty diversity.
Gertrude J. Fraser, vice provost for faculty advancement, reported that the University will need a minimum of 400 new faculty members just to meet the demand posed by increased student enrollment and replacement needs.
In comparison to the 61 other institutions in the Association of American Universities, the University ranks 53rd in regard to the percentage of women within the faculty. And while it is in the top third percentile for African-American staff members, it has room to improve in regards to Asian-American and Hispanic faculty, Fraser said.
"In terms of hiring I think we have a great opportunity here," Committee member Gordon Rainey said.
According to Fraser, departments with
more minority faculty may foster increased interest from perspective minority students.
According to Thompson, the formation of the Special Committee on Diversity and this broader discussion of diversity in all committees have increased recognition of this matter around Grounds.
"People are really getting the message that this is really important to this board and this University," he said.
Ultimately, the Board will seek to dissolve the Special Committee on Diversity, for the will signify all committees will take an equal responsibility in the diversifing of University faculty and the student body, Thompson said.
"The bottom line is this committee is working hard, there is still a lot of work to do, but when diversity becomes a theme on other committees, the special committee can fade into the sunset," Thompson said.
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