Plan 2008: Educational Quality Through Racial and Ethnic Diversity

Photo by: Jeff Miller

The Eleven Principles
of PLAN 2008

Plan 2008 is founded on the following principles:

1. This plan focuses on African Americans, Latinos, Asians with an emphasis on Southeast Asians, and American Indian faculty, staff and students (in hiring, recruitment, retention, graduation and financial aid). International students are not a Plan 2008 targeted population.
2. People of Color include the full spectrum of human diversity: men, women, differently-abled, gay, bi-sexual, lesbian, or trans-gendered. Therefore, when institutions reshape or create initiatives for Plan 2008, they must address the diversity within race ethnic groups.
3. All admitted students, including students of color, are required to meet all admissions standards.
4. All hires of faculty, administrators and staff, including those of color, will continue to meet each institution's hiring criteria.
5. The University of Wisconsin System recognizes the need to create educational experiences, both in and out of class, that respects, cultivates and builds upon the diversity that all groups bring; (i.e. gender, religion, nationality, sexual orientation and differently-abled). We encourage campuses to continue, and to build upon, their progressive initiatives for the above mentioned populations.
6. Grades K-12 African American, Latino, Southeast Asian, and American Indian students have typically been stereotyped as "children at risk." The UW System believes that students of color, like all other children, are "Children of Promise." They must be treated as assets to the institution and society, not as deficits or burdens.
7. The UW System supports the 11 Native American nations in Wisconsin in their endeavor to preserve their languages, develop leadership, create avenues for cultural expression and manage their resources and economies.
8. The Design for Diversity three-credit graduation requirement on historically under-represented U.S. racial/ethnic groups (African American, Latino, Asian American, and American Indian) remains unchanged. Course requirements on international issues, women, gay, bi-sexual, lesbian, or trans-gendered groups are complements to the graduation requirement and yet may not be substitutes for the requirement. Additional institutional course requirements are a) complements to the Design for Diversity requirement and may be developed at an institutional level to enhance the caliber of the educational experience.
9. The focus on expanding educational opportunity for all Wisconsin citizens transcends existing affirmative action laws. These are efforts we can pursue with or without these laws.
10. Each UW System institution will review and enhance its policies and practices to ensure full participation of people of color. This, institution responsibility rests with all persons, at all levels in the institution.
11. Each institution will create a ten year plan specifying initiatives it will undertake to advance the goals of Plan 2008, and identify accountability measures to ensure its success. Institutional plans will be filed with the Board of Regents.