Student concerns:
• "We market as a diversified university – we are not so stop disappointing students."
• "Students think the Multicultural Center is only for people of color."
• "Faculty doesn’t show care for students."
• "Only hear from the administration when something happens."
• "There is a feeling of discomfort and exclusion."
In a campus-wide email sent on Oct. 16, the Beneficence Dialogue report was released, summarizing the concerns and solutions about diversity and inclusion.
The Beneficence Dialogues were prompted after controversy sparked over the selection of the recipient of the John R. Emens Outstanding Senior Award in March.
During the dialogues in March, students were able to share their concerns about the university. More than 100 students participated in the conversation in small groups facilitated by faculty, staff and administrators.
The facilitators took notes and observations during the discussions, then compiled them into a report, which was organized and written by Ro Anne Royer Engle, director of the Multicultural Center.
Three of the five sections for improvement were diversity-related. The other sections were increased training for faculty and staff, and response and interaction from the university administration.
One of the concerns students had was how the university markets itself as diverse when many students feel it is not, according to the report. The solutions recommended for this included improving marketing strategies to attract diverse student populations and ensuring marketing images reflected the true diversity of the student population.
Another concern was how students of privilege are not aware of diversity issues. Some of the proposed solutions included launching a required diversity course or seminar in the core curriculum and expanding the diversity peer advocate program, which presents diversity workshops to students and organizations.
With these proposed recommendations, a council on diversity and inclusion has been established to monitor and carry out these solutions, Royer Engle said in the email.
“The team will work with the vice president for student affairs to ensure the university responds to recommendations and communicates progress on action items at regular intervals,” Royer Engle said.
Updates will be made on the council’s webpage.
The full report is available online and includes all the student concerns and the proposed solutions.
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