Equity and Diversity: The Past, Present and Future of Washington State University

1
Equity and Diversity The Past, Present and
Future of Washington State University
Dr. Michael J. Tate Vice President Office of
Equity and Diversity Workshops for Chairs and
Directors Pullman, WA March 22, 2006
2
Plato vs. Aristotle
Equity and Diversity The First Debate
Saxonhouse, A., Fear of Diversity The Birth of
Political Science in Ancient Greek Thought,
Chicago University of Chicago Press, 1992
3

Diversity Debate
PlatoUnity and harmony would be achieved by
shared characteristics of a homogenous
citizenry.AristotleUnity and harmony is
achieved through difference. Democracy based on
variety is more likely to thrive.
4

Why is Equity and Diversity Important?

• Ethical responsibility
• Strength of our nations democracy
• Educating students for success
• Economic and social well-being of the state

5
Common Question

• What do we mean by EQUITY and DIVERSITY?

6
Working Definition

• EQUITY is the principle that every person
  deserves fair and ethical treatment it is the
  foundation of our strategic goal of trust and
  respect in all we do.

7
Working Definition

• DIVERSITY is the variation of social and
  cultural identities among people existing
  together at Washington State University.

Drawn from Taylor Cox Jr.Creating the
Multicultural Organization San Francisco
Jossey-Bass, 2001
8
Legacy of Equity and Diversity
9
1897
First Graduating Class
10
1901
Washington State College Faculty Members
11
Jessie Senora Sims WalkerPharmacyHometown
Tacoma, WA1913
First WSU African American Graduate
12

• Coached Cougars to 1917 Rose Bowl Victory
• Part Sioux Indian

William Lone Star Dietz
13
Winfred A. JordanPlace of Practice
Philadelphia, PA1920
First African American Graduate in Veterinary
Medicine
14
1920s
Filipino Student Club
15
1920s
Chinese Student Club
16
1930s
Richard Sakai

• Business major at WSC before Japanese Americans
  relocated due to World War II
• WSC President E.O. Holland openly welcomed
  Japanese Americans before tensions grew on the
  Palouse
• Board of Regents set quota of 30 Japanese
  Americans from 1942-1945

17

• Gladys Jennings
• First African American to receive
• masters degree at WSU, 1948
• Food Science and Human Nutrition
• Charles U. Smith
• First African American to receive
• a Ph.D. at WSU, 1950
• Sociology

18
Samuel Kamaka

• Left Hawaii for WSU in 1947
• 1950 graduate in entomology
• Became CEO of world-famous ukulele manufacturer
  called Kamaka Hawaii, Inc.

19
William Julius Wilson

• One of a handful of African Americans to attend
  WSU in the 1960s to earn Ph.D.s in sociology.
• World-renowned author on the under-privileged and
  public policy, professor at Harvard University.
• Has received eight honorary doctorates, named one
  of Time Magazines top 25 most influential
  people, and received WSU Regents Distinguished
  Alumnus Award.

20
La Primera Decada

• First large group of Chicanos arrived in 1967 to
  participate in new High School Equivalency
  Program (HEP).
• Two years later, five HEP graduates enrolled at
  WSU.
• As more Chicano/Latinos came to WSU, instructor
  Roberto Segura led efforts to establish a Chicano
  Studies Program in 1970.

21
Margarita de Sugiyama
M.E.Ch.A. stands for Movimiento Estudiantil
Chicano y Chicana de Aztlan We, the members of
M.E.Ch.A. at Washington State University, take
upon the responsibility to encourage the
education of the Chicana and Chicano population
and promote awareness of the Chicana/Chicano
presence at Washington State University and in
the community at large, while committing to the
struggle for the self determination and
empowerment of the Chicana/Chicano Community.

22
1970
Campus Racism and Sexism Workshops
23
John Slaughter Albert Yates
1979-1980
1981-1990
WSU Provosts and Academic Vice Presidents
24
Elected to Washingtons first
legislature.Introduced bill to establish the
institution now known as Washington State
University.1890
William Owen Bush
25

Today
26

27
(No Transcript)
28
Moving Forward

• Foundation of Our Strategic Direction
• Major Initiatives

29
(No Transcript)
30
Foundation of Our Strategic Direction
31
Foundation of Our Strategic Direction

• University Climate and Intergroup Relations
• Develop a shared and inclusive understanding of
  equity and diversity as a framework for the
  design and implementation of university policies
  and procedures.
• Create a safe and engaged university climate for
  the exploration of complex and difficult issues
  such as privilege and oppression.

32
Foundation of Our Strategic Direction

• Institutional Leadership and Management
• Diversify university leadership and management.
• Align organizational systems with our equity and
  diversity goals i.e. strategic plans,
  organizational structure, policies and
  procedures, resource development/allocation,
  communication strategies, professional
  development and training, performance
  reviews/accountability, and building design
  processes.

33
Foundation of Our Strategic Direction

• Representation and Outcomes (Access and Success)
• Recruit, retain, and graduate a diverse and
  successful student body.
• Recruit, retain, and promote diverse and
  successful employees.

34
Foundation of Our Strategic Direction

• Education and Scholarship
• Build awareness of equity and diversity in
  research, scholarship, teaching, and engagement.
• Promote pedagogies and content that engage
  students in equity and diversity issues.
• Foster undergraduate and graduate experiences
  that develop personal growth and intergroup,
  intercultural, and international competencies.
• Support equity and diversity research and
  scholarship.

35
Foundation of Our Strategic Direction

• Assessment and Accountability
• Establish university benchmarks to assess the
  success of equity and diversity plans.
• Hold students, faculty, staff and administrators
  accountable for his or her actions and
  contributions to meeting the equity and diversity
  vision.

36
Foundation of Our Strategic Direction

• Benchmark One
• The racial and ethnic demographic profile of
  new first-year students matches the most recent
  racial and ethnic demographic profile of high
  school graduates in Washington State.

37
Foundation of Our Strategic Direction

• Benchmark Two
• Undergraduate students of color graduate in
  six-year cohorts at a rate equal to or exceeding
  that of the student body as a whole.

38
Foundation of Our Strategic Direction

• Benchmark Three
• Faculty of color and women faculty increase as
  a percentage of the total faculty 5 over the
  next five years.

39
Major Initiatives
40
Major Initiative

• Retention and Achievement

41
Major Initiative

• Advancing Faculty Diversity

42
Major Initiative

• Increasing Student Diversity

43
Major Initiative

• New Streams of Funding

44
Major Initiative

• Communication and Marketing

45
Major Initiative

• Education and Professional Development

46
LeadershipLeadershipLeadership
Our Role
47
(No Transcript)
48

• Good is the enemy of great. And that is one of
  the key reasons why we have so little that
  becomes great.
• Collins, Jim, Good to Great, New York
  HarperCollins Publishers Inc., 2001

49
Location of Presentation

• Web site
• http//www.diversity.wsu.edu/
• Go to the Communication link
• Email
• diversity_at_wsu.edu