Conference Highlights

UW System Reaffirms its Commitment to Diversity

Kevin Reilly, President of the UW System, opened the conference reaffirming his commitment to diversity and Plan 2008. In his own words, President Reilly remarked that “By 2008, I want UW System to set a new national standard in retaining and graduating racially and ethnically diverse students.” He also stressed the importance of transforming our institutional culture, classroom practices, and programs in order to fully realize the goals of Plan 2008.

Board of Regents and Campus Teams Translate Plan into Action

The conference was attended by many members of the UW System Board of Regents, including Danae Davis, Michael Falbo, Milton McPike, Jose Olivieri, Gerard Randall, Beth Richlen, Peggy Rosenzweig, and Jesus Salas. Regent Davis facilitated the Campus Discussions at the concluding session of the conference, which represented the culmination of applying what we learned at the numerous sessions to our specific campus settings. Campus Teams walked away with concrete action steps to share with their Chancellors in order to build on the new knowledge they gained at the conference.

High Expectations Lead to Reducing the Achievement Gap

Keynote speakers included Freeman A. Hrabowski III, President of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. His leadership and insight in the establishment of the Meyerhoff Scholars Program for gifted African American undergraduates in science and engineering has brought national attention to his university. As Hrabowski proudly states, “UMBC has become the leading producer of African Americans going to earn Ph.D.s in science and engineering.” Retention rates of Meyerhoff Scholars in the fields of science, engineering, and math are 96% with an average grade point average of 3.54. Nearly all Meyerhoff Scholars go on to medical or graduate school.

Equity Scorecard Increases Accountability

Estela Mara Bensimon, Director of the Center for Urban Education and Professor at the Rossier School of Education at the University of Southern California shared with us her organizational learning model of institutional change, the Equity Scorecard, which she and a team of researchers have been testing in 14 urban public and independent two- and four-year colleges in the Los Angeles metropolitan area for the past four years. Estela Mara Bensimon spoke about the theory and implementation of the Equity Scorecard and its application in creating a culture of institutional accountability.

Presenters

MATC scores high with the Equity Scorecard

Panelists from the Madison Area Technical College (MATC) and the Wisconsin Technical College System shared with us their application of Estela Mara Bensimon’s Equity Scorecard to asses their own diversity initiatives.

Working with Students and Families Fosters Student Retention

Other speakers included Adrian Schiess, Director of Student Success and Retention at Xavier University. Schiess shared the Xavier Retention Model with participants, a program fourteen years in the making that documents student retention history, reasons students did not persist, and changes and innovative actions in developing staying power. Freshman retention locks in over 90% of the freshman class by focusing on academically at-risk freshmen coupled with advising and mentoring.

Battling Prejudice in the Classroom Key to Student Success

Alberto Cabrera, Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis, and Senior Researcher in the Wisconsin Center of the Advancement of Postsecondary Education (WISCAPE) at UW-Madison outlined the importance of what goes on inside the classroom as key to student retention. He noted that prejudice and discrimination lead to feelings of alienation, that in turn lead to poor student retention.

Backing from the Top Vital to Diversity Initiatives

Steven O. Michael, Vice Provost in the Office of University Diversity and Academic Initiatives, at Kent State University demonstrated how top administrative commitment to diversity coupled with dynamic leadership can lead to institutional transformation. Gregory Jay, Professor of English, Culture and Communities Program, UW-Milwaukee provided an excellent model for multicultural education. Patricia Quinn, Director, Ronald E. McNair Program, and Special Assistant to the Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Development and Diversity, UW-Eau Claire offered an excellent assessment plan that was both practical and useful.

Nurturing Partnerships with the State Moves Diversity Forward

Stan Davis, Deputy Chief of Staff, Office of Governor Jim Doyle joined fellow panelists from UW-La Crosse John Magerus, Professor Emeritus; James Parker, Professor Emeritus; Barbara Stewart, Director, Multicultural Student Services; and Alfred Thompson, Assistant Chancellor to provide valuable insights on partnerships between the State of Wisconsin and UW System with concrete recommendations for moving diversity forward.

Student Voices Call for Greater Commitment to Diversity

We also had two student panels from UW-Parkside and United Council of UW Students to share their disappointment over the implementation of Plan 2008 and provide recommendations on making strides in diversity efforts on campus. Recommendations included top administrative commitment to diversity initiatives; raising diversity awareness among faculty; integrating diversity into the reward structure for tenured faculty; improving collaboration between administration, faculty, and staff on diversity issues; and improving services to students of color and economically disadvantaged students.

Entertainment

One Race, One People, One Peace – Chapmyn Spoken Word
Conference participants had the opportunity to experience Chapmyn Spoken Word’s outstanding performance of One Race, One People, One Peace, which “honestly looks at prejudice, racism, homophobia and terrorism through poignant monologues and poetic scenes. One Race was written and directed by James H. Chapmyn, nationally known for his groundbreaking work with plays like Our Young Black Men Are Dying and Nobody Seems to Care and Womyn with Wings. The moving performance uses poetry and readers theater on tandem with dramatic and comic monologues to celebrate our common struggles for a renewed sense of dignity and humanity that can change the world. It is a representative sampling of stories told in diverse voices.” The one-hour show was followed by a facilitated discussion which ends with a moving call to action that was truly inspirational.

Visit their website to find out how to bring Chapmyn Spoken Word to your campus!