The University released its newest draft of the diversity plan on Sunday after the committee charged with funneling feedback from the University community on the plan submitted its conclusions last week.
The Diversity Advisory Committee, established by University President Dave Frohnmayer, yielded a 12-page document that suggested line-by-line and general changes that would improve the draft. Their conclusions were based on feedback gleaned from the reactions of a wide variety of students, faculty and staff to the preceding draft.
“After processing this large scale feedback, we remain more convinced than ever that this draft has come a long way in finding the common ground amid the context of widespread differences of opinion,” according to the document.
The DAC recognized that the concept of “cultural competency” still remained a “polarizing concept” but did not recommend that the Executive Diversity Working Group remove the controversial term. The committee found little opposition to a broad definition of “diversity” and suggested minor changes to include and clarify groups left out of the interpretation.
The revised draft will go before the University Senate on May 24, where faculty and student members will vote to adopt the plan.
In a letter accompanying the latest draft Frohnmayer emphasized the care taken to gather community feedback.
“I believe any fair-minded reader would conclude that all major arguments advanced were listened to carefully and were considered thoughtfully,” the letter says.
He also underscored the importance of the diversity plan and its greater significance beyond the University, and thanked those who had submitted feedback to the DAC.
Copies of the DAC’s recommendations and the University’s newest draft of the diversity plan can be downloaded at(vpdiversity.uoregon.edu/policies.html)