February 22, 2002
The University of Oregon has made significant progress in fostering diversity on campus, according to a nationally recognized leader on advancing diversity in higher education.
Elson S. Floyd, who recently was named by President Bush to the President’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities, visited campus both last summer and this fall to review diversity programs here and make recommendations for improvement.
His report will be discussed during a March 11 open forum, scheduled from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. in 100 Willamette. Copies of the report are available on the Web at <provost.uoregon.edu>.
The report praises the administration’s diversity initiatives, citing the recently completed "Campus Climate Assessment" survey of issues related to race, gender and sexual identity; the formation of the Center on Diversity and Community (CODAC); and the decision to commission the Floyd report. These are indicators of the administration’s commitment to fostering a welcoming climate on campus, he says.
"We recognize that for the university to serve fully an increasingly diverse society, the university itself must reflect that diversity. This is a very high priority for us," says President Dave Frohnmayer.
Floyd’s recommendations include:
• Create a new position of vice provost for institutional equity who would report directly to the senior vice president and provost and be a member of the university’s Council of Deans,
• Establish a position of vice president for student affairs and make a concerted effort to recruit someone who has "demonstrated sensitivity to and accomplishments in issues of diversity,"
• Redefine the mission of CODAC,
• Clarify the role of the Office of Multicultural Affairs,
• Develop a communication plan to respond to a number of diversity reports submitted by various student and faculty groups over the past several years, and
• Develop and initiate a systematic exit interview protocol for faculty and staff of color in order to ascertain the true reason for their departure.
"We are reviewing Elson Floyd’s report with the President’s Council on Race, the deans, the Faculty Advisory Council and other groups," says Senior Vice President and Provost John Moseley. "I expect that we will respond positively to most, if not all, of his recommendations."
A search for the vice president for student affairs is already underway.
Floyd met with 400 members of the university community during campus visits in July and October of last year.
As many of you know, Gov. John Kitzhaber on Tuesday (Feb. 19) vetoed the bill passed by the Legislature to rebalance the budget. He plans to call a new special session on Feb. 25 to reexamine budget-balancing proposals in the face of an additional reduction of $100 million in state revenues. The total projected shortfall is now $930 million.
On Feb. 20, the governor released a list of $295 million in reductions on which he and legislative leaders agree. At least $35.5 million of this is from the Oregon University System budget, and the special session likely will involve additional reductions. The governor, however, has reconfirmed his support for protecting funding for undergraduate instruction.
All of us–including our alumni and donor advocates–are working hard to mitigate the effects of these budget decisions on the University of Oregon. You can find regular updates on this activity on the Governmental Affairs web site, <darkwing.uoregon.edu/~oga/>.
Dave FrohnmayerUO President
The University of Oregon is in the final stages of adopting a new graphic image. The university has been taking public comments during the process.
The final opportunity for public comment will end March 1.
Design applications using the "O" and the great seal are available for review on the web at <darkwing.uoregon.edu/~uopubs/graphicid/index.html>. Send comments by e-mail to <uologos@darkwing>.
President Dave Frohnmayer will make a final decision on the new graphic design following the public comment period.
Nominations for the Charles E. Johnson Memorial Award, conferred on a faculty member at Commencement in June, are due by Friday, March 1. Each nomination must include biographical information and a supporting statement addressing principles affirmed by the life and career of Johnson. Send nominations to Kathy Wagner in the President’s Office, 110 Johnson Hall, 6-3036.
International Student Merit Award nominations are due March 8. The awards, presented in May by International Programs and the Friendship Foundation for International Students, recognize international students for their campus and community involvement, leadership skills and academic success. Send nominations to <melaniew@darkwing>. For information, call Melanie Williams, 6-3206.
Proposals for innovative programs during Week of Welcome 2002 are due from faculty, departments and student groups at 5 p.m. on Friday, March 15. Conducted Sept. 26—29 by Student Orientation staff, Week of Welcome 2002 activities–academic, educational or social–are designed to enhance the new student experience. To participate, you must pick up and return proposal forms at Student Orientation, 465 Oregon, or complete the on-line form at <orientation.uoregon.edu>. Selected programs will be announced in April.
Don’t park at ANY hooded parking meters along University Street during the Pac-10 Women’s Basketball Tournament, advises Rand Stamm, Public Safety. Unlike other basketball game days, when certain colors of meter hoods have been available for open parking until 4 p.m., from Thursday, Feb. 28 through Monday, March 4, ALL hooded spaces will be needed all day every day.
The EMU Food Court Marketplace has juggled its weekly vendor schedule this school year. Located between Subway and Holy Cow, the Food Court hosts India House on Mondays; Rita’s Burritos on Tuesdays; and the Pita Pit on Wednesdays. Thursday features the Orient Express, while Friday wraps up the week with Tiny’s Chili, Hotdogs and Burgers. Bon appetit!
The University of Oregon Library is among the nation’s 10 best research libraries, according to a recent nationwide quality survey.
UO notched fifth place for overall service quality and sixth place for support of scholarly efforts in the survey developed and conducted by Texas A&M University in conjunction with the Association of Research Libraries. Forty-three universities from across the United States and Canada participated in the survey.
"We are very pleased on two counts," says Interim University Librarian Deb Carver. "One, our users think we are doing a great job, and two, they expect the best."
The survey was developed to gain insight into users’ perceptions of the quality of each school’s library collection, the knowledge of its library staff and the physical and social environment of the library.
Carver says the ranking is especially gratifying in light of Oregon’s continuing budgetary constraints and the library’s sparser staffing relative to similarly sized academic libraries.
A random sample of 751 UO students, faculty and staff graded the library in each category. The survey measured the difference between users’ desired level of library service and the level of service users felt the library provided.
Not resting on its laurels, the UO Library has assembled a task force to shape its services using the survey’s feedback. Carver says possible actions the task force could take include examining hours of operation, improving communication on existing library services, designating quiet study areas throughout the facilities, creating a new outreach program to graduate students and designing a new web site.
–
Doug Williams, Communications WriterTop 10: Overall Service Quality
1. Miami University (Ohio)
2. Brigham Young University
3. University of Washington
4. Emory University
5. University of Oregon
6. University of Illinois
7. Oregon State University
8. Iowa State University
9. Ohio University
10. University of Waterloo (ON)
On the Move
Marian Friestad, Marketing, has been named to oversee all graduate education on campus as associate dean of the Graduate School. Friestad, who will administer more than 70 graduate degree programs involving more than 3,000 students in seven UO schools and colleges, will assume her new position March 16. A UO faculty member since 1987, she previously served as Graduate School interim dean from July 1998 and September 2000. "I am excited about returning to the Graduate School because I believe that graduate education lies at the heart of a research university, and it is my hope that I’ll be able to help nurture UO graduate students and graduate programs," she said. Newly created, the position reports to Rich Linton, vice president for research and graduate studies.
The university is launching a national search to hire a new director of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity, following an announcement that Kenneth Lehrman, who has been director of the office since 1993, will become director of affirmative action and the Diversity Support Center at Pennsylvania State University starting July 1. Provost John Moseley says the search committee will be looking for a strong, experienced leader who will recognize the UO’s commitment and be excited about the opportunity to help create a campus climate that is welcoming to all.
In the Spotlight
Anne Dhu McLucas, Music dean, was named one of three Outstanding Administrators of the Year by the Oregon Music Educator’s Association. The awards, presented in January, also were given to the principals of Meadowview Elementary-Middle School in the Bethel School District and Westview High School in the Beaverton School District.
Allen Malony, Computer and Information Science, has been elected the recipient of a Humboldt Research Award for Senior U.S. Scientists. Given to outstanding and internationally recognized scholars in recognition of their research achievements, the award will enable Malony to carry out a research project in Germany lasting up to a year. His research interests are parallel computing, performance evaluation and computational science.
Sherman Simmons, Art, and Bryna Goodman, History, are recipients of National Endowment for the Humanities fellowships. Simmons will spend part of the next two summers in Germany in order to complete his book, Kunst oder Kitsch: Art and Mass Culture in Germany, 1900-1920. Goodman will complete In Public View: Newspapers, Associations and Gender in the Constitution of "The Public" in Early Republican Shanghai.