The Division of Student Affairs, which represents 10 different departments including the EMU, University Housing, and the Office of Admissions, released the results of a June 20 survey administered to faculty to measure the perceptions of diversity within the division.
According to the University’s Diversity Plan, each school, college, administrative unit and the ASUO Executive must develop its own version of the Plan catered to its individual needs and character.
The survey’s responses show both unity and division of opinion, Student Affairs officials said. The survey was issued to more than 600 employees, 198 of whom responded.
“The heart of the EMU, the heart and soul is very much committed to making a plan. The tummy might be a little rumbly,” EMU Director Dusty Miller said. “The head and the wallet are a little worried.”
In the results of the survey, its authors included written responses from those surveyed, examining what the faculty think the Diversity Action Committee for Student Affairs should focus on in the creation of their division-wide plan.
The statements call for diversity and cultural competency training, the need forconcrete results, and recognition that diversity is not only based on skin color, but also on ability, age and political, religious or sexual orientation.
The results also show a desire to create an environment where people can feel safe and comfortable while discussing these issues, and a desire for the division to hire and retain faculty of color.
“Minorities leave, don’t seem to be promoted,” one response reads. “Interesting phenomenon.”
“The diversity plan needs clear-cut, tangible goals that can be reached in a concrete way, not just a bunch of nice fluffy talk,” reads another.
Some of the results critique the plan as being unnecessary and as allowing people to judge one another using a dominant ideology, but for the most part, the results show support for a diversity plan.
Director Miller said the division began crafting its plan about two years ago. He said the EMU staff began training during finals week and is in the process of setting up a department plan to complement the division-wide plan.
He said the division has a head start by virtue of its relationship with students.
When students arrive in the residence halls they are by and large 18-year-olds who have never lived away from home before, Miller said. As a department of Student Affairs, Housing needs to nurture these students and create a safe environment, Miller said. The Counseling Center, the Health Center, the Career Center, Physical Education & Recreation Services – all of these departments need to cater to a diverse student body on a concrete, day-to -day basis, Miller said.
The EMU’s housing of the EMU International Lounge, student organizations, the ASUO Executive and Multicultural Center brings issues of diversity to the forefront.
“This is a perfect place to address diversity – students come here,” Miller said.
He said fostering diversity in the EMU will make it the jewel of the University. Difficulties exist, Miller said, because the creation and implementation of a plan promises to be timeconsuming, and that many have concerns.
“Its essential we do this and do it well,” Miller said, although “some of us are much more open to change than others.”
Robin Holmes, interim dean of students, said the survey gives the division a benchmark from which to craft a workable plan.
“We were expecting that there would be diverging views,” Holmes said. “It just shows that we’re a microcosm of the entire campus.”
The division has a head start compared to the Economics and Chemistry departments, neither of which has started working toward its own plan.
“Student Affairs has always taken the lead nationally, that’s a trend that is always seen,” Holmes said. “When you don’t focus on this stuff day-to-day it’s gonna be a lot more difficult.”
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