U Wisconsin Madison Holds Diversity Discussions
Spurred by a campus demonstration of the national frustration over racial inequity in the criminal justice system, campus officials welcomed students back by convening a newly planned round of public discussions of race on campus.
Obama Administration Proposes Free Community College [Video]
President Obama recently announced a proposal to make the first two years of community college free requiring students attend community college at least half-time, maintain a 2.5 GPA, and make progress toward completing their program. Community colleges, the federal government and participating states would have requirements that must be met as part of this proposal.
Pomona College & Cornell U Partner on Diversity Research in STEM
(U.S.): The newly published research in Nature Climate Change describes some of the hidden and complicated social barriers to participation in sustainability-related science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) by underrepresented groups and recommends a course to action.
SUNY Oswego Honors Diversity with Food Celebrations
The university's Diversity and Inclusion Committee now hosts monthly heritage events where foods from different cultures are presented to students to promote diversity and ethnic awareness across campus.
Auburn U SGA Passes Unisex Restroom Bill
Tabled at an earlier meeting, the bill, which calls for the implementation of unisex restrooms in future buildings, passed favorably through the Student Government Association recently and will benefit a variety of people including families and transgender people.
Arizona State U Student Government Passes Diversity Act
In an effort to change the culture on the subject of diversity, the Tempe Undergraduate Student Government passed the Diversity On Campus Act, which calls for the formation of a volunteer committee that will try to expand the curriculum of university 101 classes to include the subject of diversity.
Princeton U Seeks to Expand Socioeconomic Diversity
One of the university's two new initiatives is an expansion of its partnership with Leadership Enterprise for a Diverse America (LEDA), a national program dedicated to developing the academic and leadership potential of talented high school students from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds. The other program, Freshman Scholars Institute (FSI), helps admitted students from low-income families and less advantaged backgrounds make the transition to the rigor of Princeton education through a seven-week summer program.
Syracuse U Students Organize Diversity & Transparency Protest
The purpose of the recently held Diversity and Transparency Rally, organized by more than 50 student organizations, was to inform the campus community about issues such as a decrease of diversity and affordability resources, and the university's recent decision to decline divestiture from fossil fuel companies.
U Wisconsin Madison Student Fights for Student Living Wage
Working with the three biggest university employers of students, the student's campaign is based on an estimate of how much students would need to earn per hour in a 15-hour workweek in order to pay back the cost of one year of tuition and fees.
Washington U St. Louis Opens Diversity Center
The university's new Center for Diversity and Inclusion is intended to enhance and strengthen its commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive community. The center’s staff supports and advocates for students from traditionally underrepresented or marginalized populations and creates collaborative partnerships with campus and community members to promote dialogue and social change.
U Wisconsin Engages Students for Diversity
(U.S.): A new plan addressing five main goals, including promoting diversity values, engaging campus leadership, coordinating planning efforts, and improvement of recruitment and retention of faculty and students, aims to garner ideas and support from students in order to accomplish.
West Virginia U Recognizes Latino Culture on Campus
(U.S.): In an effort to bring awareness to the university's Hispanic and Latino culture, the university's Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion hosted a Hispanic Heritage Night, which was organized through the recently initiated student club WVU Hispanic and Latino Association.
U Maiduguri Celebrates Diversity
(Nigeria): A diversity festival was recently held at the university with the theme Unity in Diversity. This was a large cultural event on campus that encouraged people to dress in various cultural attires and learn from one another.
Temple U Unveils New Diversity Site
The university rolled out a new website to support its mission to maintain a campus climate that welcomes diversity and will provide easy access to information and resources for those interested in fostering diversity across the campus.
DePauw U Names New Senior Advisor to Promote Diversity
Renee Madison, attorney and associate director of enforcement for the National Collegiate Athletics Association, will now serve on the university’s Cabinet as Senior Advisor to the President for Diversity and Compliance, announced the university’s president this September. She will lead university efforts to promote a campus culture of respect and inclusion.
Appalachian State U Welcomes Chief Diversity Officer
Bindu Kolli Jayne started as the chief diversity officer and associate vice chancellor for equity, diversity and compliance this past June. Jayne will be responsible for the university’s compliance with laws, regulations and guidelines related to affirmative action, equal opportunity and disability services.
Frederick CC Increases Diversity
Minority students and faculty increased at the community college in the past year, which has spurred the need for a new Office of Diversity director to address this growing change at the campus.
U Washington Educates Students on Diversity
Freshman orientation this fall was met with a new skit, “Our Names, Our Stories,” to educate university students about acceptance with a focus on race, sexual orientation, socioeconomic diversity and gender diversity.
Everett CC Hires First Chief Diversity Officer
(U.S.): After 23 years at Peninsula College, Maria Peña has been hired to build a relationship with local tribes, collaborate with local partners and institutions, and bolster diversity initiatives listed in the strategic plan.
U Chicago Welcomes Underserved Groups
(U.S.): Nearly two years after the university amended its admissions policies, its Class of 2018 welcomed seven students who have received the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status and are legally recognized U.S. residents. DACA status means that these students came to the U.S. as children and meet several other guidelines.
Hilbert College Launches Diversity Committee
Launched in the summer of 2014, the committee's focus, comprised of faculty, staff and students, is to gradually change the culture of campus to be a more inclusive one and provide a diverse and engaging campus experience through education resources, professional development, and a study on the campus culture.
U California Santa Cruz Announces Diversity Certificate Program
This month, the university released the Diversity and Inclusion Certificate Program, a free professional development opportunity open to all staff and faculty and includes courses covering topics such as disabilities, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues, and generational differences.
Inside Higher Ed: LGBTQ Presidents Organize
With the number of openly gay college presidents on the rise, the LGBTQ Presidents in Higher Education will host a conference for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer academics who want to climb the college leadership ladder. The conference, LGBTQ Leaders in Higher Education: Shaping Our Futures, will be held in June 2015.
Virginia Tech Establishes Presidential Diversity Council
(U.S.): The university, where only three percent of the undergraduate student body is Black, according to the latest Department of Education data, has established a new President’s Inclusion and Diversity Executive Council that will oversee all of the university’s diversity efforts.
U California Los Angeles Proposes Student Body Diversity Course
The university is currently drafting a proposal that would require 85 percent of its student body to take a course on diversity issues, including race, ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation and religion, in order to receive a degree.
U Utah Rewrites Fight Song Lyrics
After many changes throughout history, the university's fight song changed again to reflect a more gender-neutral tone, from "our coeds are the fairest” to “our students are the finest” and the line “no other gang of college men” will now be “no rival band of college fans."
NY Times: 'Change Makers Create Cultural Change on Campus'
"From racial and ethnic diversity to an influx of "first generation" students and the challenges of being a low-income student, most college and universities in this country have begun to recognize that the face of higher education is changing. The struggle, however, has been in how to accommodate or support these students." This New York Times article highlights Northwestern University's actions toward shifting its values to change its culture.
CC System of New Hampshire Reduces Tuition
In an effort to address higher education affordability, the system's new board of trustees president recently announced a five percent tuition reduction for all state community colleges due to the restoration of money to the state's budget.
Colorado Signs Affordability Bill into Law
The recently signed bill will allocate an additional $100 million in state funding for Colorado’s colleges and universities to help offset several years of recession-driven cuts. As part of the legislation, Colorado’s universities and colleges agreed not to raise tuition by more than six percent a year.
Bentley U Remakes Disability Icon
With assistance from the university's Diversity Mini-Grant program, the Accessible Icon Project will repaint handicap parking spots on campus with an icon that represents independence and abilities of individuals who use wheelchairs.
Belmont Abbey College Focuses on Affordability
A recent move to shrink general administrative costs by $1 million annually builds on the 33 percent tuition reduction last year to help the college focus on student learning and affordability.
Oregon Passes 2 Bills to Help Students Through Higher Education
The two bills, recently signed into law by the governor, are intended to help low-income students attain a higher education credential. One bill asks for a study on the feasibility of providing free community college classes to Oregon high school graduates. The other sets aside $750,000 for low-income families.
U Maryland Holds Diversity Open Mic Night
(U.S.): On behalf of a month dedicated to honoring diversity, the Office of Multicultural Involvement and Community organized the open mic night to give students a creative platform to share about their identity in hopes of transcending stereotypes.
Wesleyan U Links Tuition to Inflation
In an effort to keep tuition affordable for students and make strides to decrease or eliminate heavy debt burden, the university recently announced it will increase tuition in concert with inflation.
California State U Creates Pathways for Underserved Students
(United States): Answering President Obama’s call to increase college opportunity for disadvantaged students, the California State University is partnering with more than 100 African American churches to speak to youth and their families about the value of a college degree and access to financial aid.
Lehigh U Greeks Adopt Diversity Policy
(United States): The new policy, which was developed in support of the university’s Principles of an Equitable Community, prohibits any Greek organization from sponsoring or endorsing an event or program that discriminates against anyone “based on color, disability, gender identification, genetic information, marital status, national or ethnic origin, political beliefs, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, socio-economics, veteran status, or any differences that have been excuses for misunderstanding, dissension or hatred.”
